Jubilee headlight size

Correct headlight for the Jubilee/Navigator (1961 onward) is Wipac 6 1/2". Adverts at the time said it was 7" but it definitely wasn't. The earlier Jubilee had a smaller 5 3/4" Wipac headlight. The 6 1/2" Wipac glass lens will be hard to find unless you hit lucky.

What do we think this is off, if it is genuinely a7” headlight? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORTON-HEADLIGHT-ASSEMBLY/123597921192?hash=item1cc7029ba8:g:S7EAAOSwWapcP3g0

I don't know what it fits but it looks quite good even if it is totally "wrong".  You would need a different speedo cable at least to fit it on a Jubilee.  I have never seen chrome plinths for the Wipac switches before.  Even the ammeter is wrong as well. It is probably something you need to actually see for real to make a judgement; good value if bought for £20 at an autojumble.

I’m tempted, even at that price but I notice the speedo isn’t fitted properly, and wonder if that’s because it doesn’t! 

If you can find a 6 1/2 shell ( I need one too! ) then a metric lamp will fit. Thatâs what I used back in the day after I rear ended a fiat 127!

or these guys seem to sell them http://www.petersclassicbikeparts.nl/contents/en-us/d279.html

Yes the 7" Lucas will fit without any problem. I have one fitted to a Jubilee Cafe Racer with the later 1963 style forks. It is an all chrome shell with holes for an ammeter, two warning lights, and a Lucas flick switch for the lights; they look the part and are easily obtained as I think they are Commando but the downside is you can't fit the correct Jubilee switches and speedo.

Just the small issue of where to put the speedo!

My 1961 Navigator headlamp shell has a 7" rim fitted. I assumed mine was original. Everything just about fits .

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Well you learn something every day !. I have never seen a headlight like that before; there is a distinct difference in size between the body of the light and the actual rim.

Your ignition switch is also the different type - is it the one with the 'key' ?

You mean this one. 100% secure,guaranteed!!

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That's the one. Yes total security; any pocket sized screwdriver will turn it on if you lose the key. !

You have also got a Lucas ammeter. I have often wondered when they changed from the Wipac ammeter to the Lucas ? My 1959 Jubilee has the white faced ammeter with the chrome cover and both my 1961 Navigators have the black faced Lucas ones but the parts book for 1961/62 gives the same Wipac part number for both 1959 and 1961.

Iâve not seen a shell like that before, I wonder if itâs âhomeâ made?

The 7" rim has been welded to the shell. Difficult to photo. This is what it looks like on the bike .

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The seat is an experiment. Is it time for this lightweight to have a single seat I thought? What would it look like and how ? It uses the lightweight petrol tank as a styling template.It is just a work in progress, still lots to do.

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Another single seater lightweight.

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No number plate Patrick?! Track bike?

Hi Dan,

It's a "hand-built specialist British motorcycle"- known to most sensible people as a 'bitsa'.

The original Yamton was built (25 years ago) as a racer in the Forgotten Era class. It had a 1959 Jubilee De Luxe frame with a Yamaha engine/six speed gearbox but it was protested against as not legal (because it was too fast! ). All the Norton bodywork was of course removed and it was fitted with a proper race seat and hand made (by me ) alloy side panels , Commando exhausts etc etc. In recent times I refitted the original De Luxe bodywork and seat to the Yamton so all the racer stuff was surplus. A spare De Luxe frame was obtained from NOCshop and built up into this. It still has race tyres (not for road use) fitted and the polished alloy side panels etc but the proper Jubilee engine still needs sorting. It's only to play with and it's too cold out in the workshop - minus 10 these last few nights.

One day I will grow up and act my age but not just yet. We still have the race Gold Star (fitted with Honda 750 front forks and disc brakes) to sort back to road use.

Patrick

I like the sound of your garage! I have a Navigator engine, (just pegging the layshaft bush) spare frame, tanks and full width Dommi wheels to rebuild, that too will be a bitsa, just got to decide whether to rob the jubilee of its roadholders, along with the model 50 engine, gearbox needing a rebuild, pre featherbed ES2 frame, long Roadholder forks and more wheels! Am tempted to sent the engine to Mike pemberton to breath on!

Sorry gone of topic, perhaps we should start a projects thread!

Jubilee forks aren't all bad if they are in good condition but you can't get any spares for them - new bushes, springs etc are not available.

The Navigator is effectively the same frame as the Jubilee so Roadholder forks are easy to fit by using the Navigator cups and cones and stop. They are easily available but they won't come cheap.

My jubilee came with a set of good roadholders, one of the reasons I bought it! the fork offset is a bit different on the jubilee so I used the navigator front frame member and made a spacer for the head steady. The best bit is the front brake!

I have pair of jubilee forks but they need re bushing and I donât have a jubilee front wheel, but could probably fit a navigator/Dommi one. Or I could buy something else .... Decisions decisions!

Previously Dan Field wrote:

If you can find a 6 1/2 shell ( I need one too! ) then a metric lamp will fit. Thatâs what I used back in the day after I rear ended a fiat 127!

or these guys seem to sell them http://www.petersclassicbikeparts.nl/contents/en-us/d279.html

Probably you can find one here: http://www.vintage-motorcycle.com/index.php?language=de&site=4&pid=250

B.T.W. ?gebraucht? means ?used?.

Fritz

Thanks Fritz, what I really need is the 6 1/2 shell with the ammeter and speedo hole. The 5 3/4 seem more common on eBay. Usually listed for a AMC/James etc

dan

Problem here is that these are Lucas lights and are a different design to the Wipac light fitted to the Norton lightweights so you cannot fit the 60mm Smiths speedo or the Wipac switches.

Even when you have the correct shell and manage to get a light unit to fit the "people who know" will tell you that the glass should have the word Wipac on it.

Here's my best effort at photographing the light lens.

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No Wipac on mine ! Its not Lucas (prob Japanese) but everything fits ok, the ammeter is only a bit loose because I havenât clamped it in place.

Many years ago as I wheeled my first nicely rebuilt 1963 Jubilee into his workshop for it's MOT at Thirsk, North Yorkshire the original real Denis Teasale looked at me seriously and said " it's hardly worth bringing it in as I can tell you from here that I will have to fail it ".

He then burst out laughing and said that was a joke and he was pointing at the headlight glass which said "STANLEY Made in Japan." A normal 7" headlamp should show LUCAS and Made in England on the glass if it is a genuine one but I'm not certain about the 5 3/4" size as I think they could be either LUCAS or WIPAC.

He did pass it though but I always remembered that remark.

Just looked, mine is a Stanley!

Dan:

How badly smashed up was the Fiat 127?

Heh heh......

Actually quite badly! I hit the rear quarter and prob bent the c post! Luckily I missed the car and went head first into the hedge and the bike knocked itself into neutral and was ticking over leaning against the verge! Headlight was broken and the bottom yolk was buckled, suprisingly the stanchions were still straight!

Dan