Author Topic: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?  (Read 2440 times)

Offline Stephen Foster

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Wonder if there is an accepted "best method" for fitting this ?
i.e round speedo first ?
    round Nacelle (Divers Helmet) first ?
or an alternative & is it permissible to use lubricant , which one if so ?


Thanks for reading ,

Steve...
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

Offline duTch

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #1 on: 05.09. 2012 13:30 »
Hi Steve,
              I'm not really sure how it works, but if there's rubber involved, maybe try some rubber grease I think there's a few varieties and I'm not clued up on them, but you'd be surprised how handy it is for other stuff.
 Cheers ,duTch
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
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Offline Stephen Foster

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #2 on: 05.09. 2012 19:10 »
Thanks Dutch !
Assume You mean red silicone grease ?

Steve ....
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

Online trevinoz

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #3 on: 05.09. 2012 21:53 »
Steve,
             I found the rubber too hard to to do much with it, being a new pattern part.
Couldn't get the speedo flange into the rubber with the rubber in the cowl and couldn't get the assembly into the cowl with the rubber fitted to the speedo.
So I just fitted the rubber to the cowl and greased the speedo and pushed it into the rubber and left the flange proud.

Trev.

Offline Stephen Foster

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #4 on: 07.09. 2012 18:45 »
Thanks Trev ,
There must be a method ..dont fancy leaving the speedo floating around like that ?

Anyone any suggestions please ?

Steve...
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

Offline MG

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #5 on: 07.09. 2012 19:56 »
Yep, those pattern rubbers are a genuine p.i.t.a.!!!  *angry*
The only method that has worked for me (not always, but in most cases) is to put the rubber into the cowl, and then fit the bezel alone (w/out glass and speedo!). The bezel alone can carefully be squeezed into a slightly oval shape and thus be crafted into the rubber. Once it is in, I slightly grease the speedo housing, put in glass and o-ring in the housing and push the whole lot into the rubber and screw it home into the bezel.
You might have to use a piece of flat aluminium, copper etc on the back of the casing (between the cable and bulb mounting) to screw it home fully and turn further to align it.
Not beautiful, nor elegant, but works (for me at least)  *work*
1955 A7 Shooting Star
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1961 Matchless G12 CSR

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Offline ian davies

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #6 on: 07.09. 2012 20:37 »
had my speedo out recently, to put it back, rubber into cowl first with some grease, and then with what we called a hooky tool, like a screw driver but ground to a blunt point and bent to a hook shape at the end, it's what we used to fit windscreens with, push the speedo into the rubber keep pressure on it and slowly with the hook tool inserted into the rubber move it round lifting the rubber onto the bezel. Hope this makes sense and is of help. Cheers Ian.
ian davies

Offline Stephen Foster

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #7 on: 08.09. 2012 05:20 »
Thanks Ian ,
Ill try that later Today ....may need clarification regarding the tool ?

Regards,
Steve ...
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #8 on: 08.09. 2012 05:35 »
The speedo doesn't move in my rubber.
Would be almost impossible to fit the flange on the bezel into the recess in the rubber without damaging something.

 Trev.

Offline Stephen Foster

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #9 on: 08.09. 2012 07:22 »
Trev ,
Just fitted the speedo as described ..popped in a treat without any damage .

Thanks Ian Davies !
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

Online Brian

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #10 on: 09.09. 2012 08:23 »
I've been away so didnt see this thread until now.

The easiest way is to fit the rubber in the nacelle, put some rubber grease in the groove the flange goes into and then get some string, you can use electrical wire. Run the string around into the groove and then sit the speedo in, push the speedo down and slowly pull the string out. As you pull the string out the flange will go down into the groove.

Once you have done this a couple of times you will be able to fit a speedo in seconds.

I learnt this trick fitting windscreens to cars.

Offline Stephen Foster

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #11 on: 09.09. 2012 17:01 »
Thanks Brian ..had considered that method , in the event I managed fine .
Sounds as though there must be 2 different sizes of rubber ring ?
Mine fitted a treat but Ive heard some wont fit at all ?

Steve ..
I own a 1955/56 B.S.A Swinging Arm "Golden Flash" , had it since 1976 .

Offline MG

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #12 on: 09.09. 2012 18:48 »
Yep, I had tried Brian's method, but to no avail (rubber fell apart...  *doh*)
Guess it depends on quality, age, amount of ashes, old engine oil or bitumen in the "rubber", dunno. All mine started to crack after three months in the nacelle, all very frustrating. Same "quality" material as footrest, gearchange, kickstart, etc rubbers....
Rant over.
1955 A7 Shooting Star
1956 A10 Golden Flash
1961 Matchless G12 CSR

www.histo-tech.at - Restoration, Repairs, Racing

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Offline duTch

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #13 on: 10.09. 2012 09:47 »
 

   For what it's worth, I bought two rubbers from two different places, on spec in the hope they'd work for a tank speedo mount,(they didn't kind-of, but that's another story) and they're two different sizes.
 Not knowing which was the 'wronger' or the 'righter', I dissected the sloppy one...!

 Cheers, duTch
Started building in about 1977/8 a on average '52 A10 -built from bits 'n pieces never resto intended -maybe 'personalised'
Have a '74 850T Moto Guzzi since '92-best thing I ever bought doesn't need a kickstart 'cos it bump starts sooooooooo(mostly) easy
Australia

Offline metalflake11

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Re: Fitting Speedometer rubber in "Divers Helmet" query ?
« Reply #14 on: 23.12. 2012 16:55 »
For handlebar grips, speedo rubbers, footpeg rubbers etc, etc, use washing up liquid. I put some new handlebar grips on yesterday, they slip on easily and now the liquid has dried off it is sticky, like a weak glue and the grips are nice and tight. The excess was washed off with water at the time of fitting. I have used this method for years.
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