Diana Questions; and please welcome Karsten

[joe46ho]

Tony, Nope no embossed letters in the housing. Ill pm you some more info...

Joe

[KarstenH]

Hallo,

thank you for your answers. That was a great help for me.
@ ajleone - on your pictures is the right tail light - which diameter has this light?
I have one with a diamteter of 57 mm across the lens and 60 mm over the ring with them the lens ist mounted.
The lenght is 55 mm from the lens to the upper edge at the mudguard.
Are this the correct masses?
Have you a picture from the lens?

Best regards from Germany Karsten

[Bevel bob]

IF this was a British marketed bike would it not have had a battery and ignition switch in the Headlight Bucket?, Looking through the Road tests of the period this would have been what was fitted to almost everything. Batteryless bikes were not regarded as worthwhile.

[Rick]

I might have some clues that help solve the tail light puzzle- I have one of these tail lights, but it has a rubber grommet in the hole on the side:

tail light grommet.jpg

I don't think the hole in Tony's shell was intended for a switch. The grommet in my shell is hard as a rock, so probably old, and probably original. Looking through pictures in Tom Bailey's book I can see a wire entering the shell from the grommeted hole on the side in the Diana MK3 and 250 F3 pictures.
For Karsten's reference, a picture of the lens:

tail light lens 2 .jpg

And the a measurement of the outer retaining ring:

tail light diameter.jpg

I can't say for sure, but that hole would need a really small toggle switch- I'd bet it's for the wiring.
Rick

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" I might have some clues that help solve the tail light puzzle- I have one of these tail lights, but it has a rubber grommet in the hole on the side:
I don't think the hole in Tony's shell was intended for a switch.
I can't say for sure, but that hole would need a really small toggle switch- I'd bet it's for the wiring. "

____ I've never owned any Duke with this rare model of taillight still attached, but I'm fairly sure that it was original standard-equipment on the early 4-speed 250 Motocross & Diana Mark III Duke-models (only). _ And since those two models never came stock with any brake-light at all, there thus wouldn't be any use for any switch in the taillight-shell !
So your suspicion/deductions are no-doubt the actual-conclusion (which stands to reason), Rick !
__ Also Rick, thanks for another informative posting with related pix !
Your included pic showing the internals of that taillight reminds me that I at least once had my hands on one of those old taillight shells, (which I'm sure I got with a Motocross basket-case) !


Dukaddy-DUKEs,
-Bob

[KarstenH]

Thank you Rick for your pictures,

i have found such a taillight in italia as a light for a Motom cycle.
The link to the store is http://www.brezzirandellini.com/, then you must go to lights - motom lights.
I have checked your masses on my light and they are exacly ident.
Two differences i found - the first is the hole for the switch. In my example is no hole.
The other difference is the structure of the lens - my lens has over the complete area the small six-edges (? we say cat-eyes)
like your only in the under part. If you look thru the window for teh bulb you can see what i mean.

taillight.jpg

@Bob I now that this bikes was made for the track - but i must talk with my TÜV (an organisation that checks all cars and bikes if they in a good technical state for street using)
if its possible to use this bike without a brake light as an oldtimer withe a special number plate.
If he says NO then i think about a tail light like on the ducati elite.
But in moment we have christmas panic in our office - i will see what i can do in january.

Best regards Karsten

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" then i think about a tail light like on the ducati elite. "

____ If you have the stock fender which your old-style taillight-body mounts directly to, then it will be disconcerting to attempt mounting the newer type of taillight (which mounts to a bracket).
So to pass your road-worthy inspection, you might consider adding another light-bulb within your tail-shell/body, plus a battery to power the added brake-light setup (and perhaps also a horn as well).


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[Eldert]

Hi Guys

this weekend i was at a swapmeet in Reggio Emilia It.
i picked up the Motom taillite like Karsten mentioned in a previous posting



it measures 2.4 inch ( 61 mm ) over the crome bezel
only the lens is differend as in Ricks picture



the price was 25 euro . for a replica narrowcase rear fender i paid a 100 euro

Eldert

[Bevel bob]

My guess is that its a 250 road bike so all the information on lights is wrong!, Having spent the 1960-65 period in the uk the only Duc singles you got to see were road models, nobody was interested in scramblers,or bikes without batteries.A bit unlikely to be one of those in that period.

[double diamond]

Inquired with BrezziSamueleCollezionismo about the Motom taillight. Specifically, I wanted to get just the housing since I have a couple of NOS lenses. BSC only sells the complete assembly. Anyone know where to get just the housing? Matt