Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Bsa bulletin board B44 Victor Taillamp

There are two flat 68-70 alloy taillamp housings, long type casting 82-8253 and short type casting 82-8139. Did any of the B44 Victors come with the short one?

Thanks

Gordo

Long one is apparently due to Cal regulations about light positions.

SO I would expect West Cost ones to be long .

I don’t think the light actually sticks out any further with one than the other. The long one sits over the top of the rear loop stay (like on the A65) and the short one sits “around” the loop stay, I say around because from memory where it buts upto the loop, it is also carved out so it kinda locks against the stay in position. If anything it might sit lower on the mudguard than the long light holder.

My UK 69 Shooting Star has the short one with the recess for the rear mudguard stay, US could be different. I have the long one, incorrectly purchased, and the light is in the same position but the front would go over the rear mudguard stay. To move the light rearward they added a thick black spacer but only ever seen that on a Triumph.

I’ve seen some of those on West coast? A65’s, the bracket which is another standard black bracket with a formed sheet steel section tacked to it come up occasionally on eBay, though most of them seem to fracture at the point where the upper licence plate bracket mounts.

You guys are talking "apples and oranges" on this subject.

I think Gordo is asking about the cast aluminum part of the 1968-70 tail lights.
The "long' casting was used on the A50 and A65 bikes.
The "short" one was the same as Triumphs used, and was on the B44 Victors and Shooting Stars, as kommando says.
Both were used on models sent to the USA.

NOW, as to the second part, the "extended" tail light, per Allan G:
The standard 1966-69 stamped steel black bracket with the sheet metal extension tacked to it:

That was made and installed to satisfy some U.S. states' regulations for 1970 Triumphs and BSAs built beginning January 1, 1970, and standard use
to end of '70 model year production in August.. They came with the license plate mount welded to the bottom of the extension.

These fracture above the license mount because they were NEVER meant to be installed without a SECOND mount bolted to the fender below it.
The second mount to be used would be the 1966-69 original bolt-on license mount, thus mounting the license plate at FOUR points.

For some reason the factory workers neglected to put that bottom mount on the bikes, so in use the plate vibrated and broke off, taking the license plate with it.

I know, because it happened to ME in April of 1970 on my new T100C.

AFAIK, the long aluminum bodies were used for the 68 and early 69 B44s. The shorter assemblies came after the start of the 69 season on the B44, ran through 70.

Edit- I'm speaking of the Victor Specials, I'm not sure if the same early 69 time-frame for the SS...

Thanks for all the replies. There is more info above than I ever dreamed of.

I take it that for 69 VS bikes I could use either one and be close enough depending how early/late I think the bikes are.

Gordo

Not really apples and pears, I was meerly stating in my first reply that the long light unit wouldn't stick out any further than the short one... I then went on to elaborate further.... Elaborating further still because some will not distinguish between any of the unit singles......

The short tail light was used I beleive on B25 and B44 VS, but the B44R (or at least the 68 model B44 Shooting Star) used the long tail light...


If anything I might be digressing, but the VS I beleive all had the short light unit.

I think it will be more down to the mudguard and if you need to drill a new hole to mount it.

Ive got one of those add on tin brackets on my A65 which i brought new it is the only one i have ever seen. They used to send BSA's which didnt sell in the US summer here to catch our summer so its in full US spec which was very unusual; here back in the day , And yes they do crack , fortunately I weld.

AFAIK the short alloy one in the pic is B44/50 not A65 (not 100% sure) however

Gordo, if you have to acquire a short-housing assembly, be aware that they are not all the same. The curve for the rail differs on B44 and Triumph, I guess. I've found some that just won't fit right, but have not sorted that whole mess out.

And yes, you're right on the 69 application...

Steve is correct on this.
If you look at the cross-section of the fenders, BSA fenders have a tighter curve to them, Triumph fenders have a more gradual one.
This doesn't affect the casting itself, but DOES affect the steel plate that bolts to the casting, AND to the fender itself.

Those plates show up frequently, but the sellers usually don't know there is this difference.
So be careful when buying one.

Thanks again for all the info. I will first sort out the rear fender then decide which light to use. Also a good heads up on the different steel plates. In the past I have used small black solid grommets to fill extra holes when reusing fenders.

Gordo

Gordo, interesting you comment on grommets in unused holes.

I have a BSA A10 that the factory put two chrome steel plugs in the front fender for the U.S A market, because we didn't require front number plates.

Short one on my 68 B44.