Correct mounting of Speedo and Rev counter brks?

[sprint]

Which is the correct way to mount the the speedo and rev counter mounting brks arms?

With one rubber above and below the brk or with both above, or does it not really matter?

[Sparky]

I believe the lower photograph shows the correct placement of the rubber mounts.  However, according to my spares book, the angled bracket shown was used from 1954-59 when just a rev counter was fitted, whereas the straight bracket was used when both speedo and rev counter were mounted.

[sprint]

Thanks for the reply.

The bike is a RGS which had both speedo and rev counter brks angled up, I believe?

Does that make any difference to how they should be mounted?

[a101960]

Sprint, below is a picture of the RGS instrument mounts. First of all, note the orientation of the triangular plates. The instrument holding bracket holes should be facing towards the back of the bike. The rev counter cable will definatley be to short if you mount the plates with the holes facing forward. Even then there might may be an issue with the length of the standard cable being a bit on the short side even if everything is aligned correctly. Don't ask me how I know this! You can see from the picture that the rubber bushes are positioned between the bracket and the retaining nuts. The bolt is fitted from underneath and the nuts are on the top. There should be no rubber bush under the bracket ( that is to say between the bracket and the triangular plate). The instrument anti vibration rubber bushes go on the actual instrument studs. If you do encounter problems with the standard cable you can have a custom cable made here. http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/html/cables.html that is what I had to do.

John

[sprint]

Sprint, below is a picture of the RGS instrument mounts. First of all, note the orientation of the triangular plates. The instrument holding bracket holes should be facing towards the back of the bike. The rev counter cable will definatley be to short if you mount the plates with the holes facing forward. Even then there might may be an issue with the length of the standard cable being a bit on the short side even if everything is aligned correctly. Don't ask me how I know this! You can see from the picture that the rubber bushes are positioned between the bracket and the retaining nuts. The bolt is fitted from underneath and the nuts are on the top. There should be no rubber bush under the bracket ( that is to say between the bracket and the triangular plate). The instrument anti vibration rubber bushes go on the actual instrument studs. If you do encounter problems with the standard cable you can have a custom cable made here. http://www.speedograph-richfield.com/html/cables.html that is what I had to do.

John

Thanks for the reply and photo John.

With respect to the rubbers positions I assume that is as my second photo?

Will probably have the locknuts under the brks as it looks neater, to me anyway and does not have any other impact.

However, the triangular mounting brks are a mystery? I am not physically able the have them with the two holes to the rear, facing the handlebars, as the foul on the headstock handlebar lugs that way around. Must admit I have never seen them that way round until you photo?

However, I have no problems with either the speedo or rev counter cables with the plates the other way around, as my photos, so I must be luck in that respect as yoou indicate that you had problems that way around?

[Sparky]

Sprint,

I admit that I have no experience with the RGS.  However, your post alerted me to the use of the rubber vibration isolation grommets under the instrument brackets.  It appears those were also used on the Road Rocket, and since mine are absent, I am about to order a set.

I came across a couple of illustrations of the mounting of the speedo and rev counter on a RGS that may help with your installation.  The photo shows the triangular bracket facing rearward as in John's photo.  The link is to a video of a RGS.  About half way through, there is a clear view of the instruments and triangular plates, only in this case they are facing forward.  In your photos, it appears that the shape of the left and right plates are different (one looks "T" shaped, and the other triangular) but it's hard to tell from the angle. Are these reproduction brackets?  All too often, my experience with after market parts has been that they are not made to very precise tolerances.

http://www.twowheelclassics.com/Images/Pages/VideoPortalBSAGoldstar.html

[a101960]

However, the triangular mounting brks are a mystery? I am not physically able the have them with the two holes to the rear, facing the handlebars, as the foul on the headstock handlebar lugs that way around. Must admit I have never seen them that way round until you photo?

After market parts can be a problem, this is especially so if you do not have access to an original for comparison. Like you, I assumed that the triangular plate should be fitted with the holes facing away from the handle bars. However, I dropped off my magneto at Tony Coppers for an overhaul, and while I was there Tony showed me his original "un got at" RGS and the triangular plates were indeed fixed in place with the holes facing the rear. Mine plates I have to admit are fitted incorrectly that is to say that the holes are faced away from the handlebars. The reason for this is because I have fitted Eddie Dow type two-way dampers and the instrument brackets foul the coned nuts of these units. I must say, that if I was using the original BSA fork top nuts then the plate would have fitted without the problem that you describe. That photograph by the way is an original BSA photo. I am not sure why you might have a problem, but sometimes things do not always fit as intended. I had to cut a notch in my petrol tank anti vibration strap in order for it to clear the anti roll post on the frame. My tank is a genuine BSA item by the way, not a repro. For some reason it seems that on some frame - tank combinations this is necessary. Why? nobody seems to know! Regarding the rubber grommets at a guess I would think that their function is to lessen the likelihood of the nut becoming lose, because BSA choose to invert the bolt. I agree with you it looks neater the other way round. With reference to the Speedo and rev counter cables the Speedo cable was fine, but the rev counter was as tight as a bow string when the handle bars were turned to the left. Lots of odd little peculiarities turn up like that. I suppose that what makes bike restoration such fun. By the way Super Rocket brackets are flat. RGS brackets are angled upwards. At the end of the day it amounts to this: Do what you think is right for you. There will always be some know all that claims that your bike is not as BSA intended. So what? As for me? I don't care I love my bike. I love riding my bike and that is all that counts.

John





John

[sprint]

Thanks for the replies.

The video was very helpful and clearly shows the triangular plates facing forward and both rubbers on top of the plate. I guess that in it's time either position was the norm and very often bikes used promo/ad photos did not always necessarily reflect actual build?

[a101960]

Do not take to much notice of what was said in that video! No doubt about it the featured bike was gorgeous but 120 -125 mph is a not likely to be the norm for a standard production model. This is from a road test conducted by Motor Cycle in November 1962 "A further tweak of the twist grip at ninety unleashed a fresh surge of power until the needle was hovering near the magic 100, but to achieve a genuine ton it was necessary to chin the tank." The plates on that RGS are set to accomodate the Eddie Dow two way damper kit that he has fitted. Like I said it hardley matters. It is what pleases you that counts.

John

[trevinoz]

This is the instrument layout on the 1962 RGS as shown in the road test.
The triangle brackets definitely are mounted with the holes forward.
This was the touring version, maybe the Clubman version was different?
Trev.