Headlight retainer clip (on 7" headlights)

[ukjules]

Does anyone know where I can get , make or bodge a retaining clip for a 7" headlight ?

Bodge would be ideal ....

I have 2 but need a 3rd.

 

[Grimly]

Hot glue it in place. It's not going anywhere.

 

[Suzukian]

Get some Piano Wire, tie one end securely, and the other end, like 4 feet of it, to a wooden dowel. Start pulling really hard, when you feel it all of a sudden stretch, it will be hardened, then you can make a spring out of it of any shape.

 

[bwringer]

Hit a moto-boneyard; there are probably hundreds of mangled Suzuki headlights in there they can't sell as-is, but should be intact enough to harvest a few clips from.

 

[ukjules]

yes the scrap yard is the place.
BUT
what in the vicinity of a normal biker household could create the same hold , tension etc spring clip?
I am thinking a ' flight of the phoenix ' scenario where I have no glue and insist on a clip or I ain't flying out of the desert.

no piano wire at mo but will look into that.

 

[bwringer]

OK, fine... I've seen very similar clips inside lighting fixtures. If you have any incandescent canister lights (lights embedded into the ceiling, whatever they call them over there) in your house, pull one out and take a look. Or rummage around the nearest home center.

Some have something more like a flat spring, but some have wire clips holding the bulb or diffuser in place.

In the US, there's a secondhand home goods store called Habitat ReStore that always has tons of lighting and other home products. They take donations of leftovers and used but usable lighting, cabinets, materials, etc. from contractors and homeowners after remodeling and construction projects. If you have something similar, that could be worth a look.

And finally, some REAL hardware stores (not the big box joints) have drawers and drawers full of assorted springs and spring clips. It's quite possible you could find something you could adapt here.

As noted above, it's certainly possible to make your own springs, but then you'd need to buy the correct wire, probably make a jig, etc. It takes some trial and error.

 

[ukjules]

I'd say 10 years ago here we had stores like you describe. All gone now where I live for superstores. One I knew of would have been able to help and gladly.
I am not leaving the house until I find a suitable spring or retainer clip. I think I can
last 2 weeks food wise.

But in electrical goods I am sure I have binned I have see similar spring like metal.
I'll start on my knackered electrical toothbrush later and check light fittings.

(p.s my siblings took my piano so can't do the piano wire)

 

[bwringer]

I am not leaving the house until I find a suitable spring or retainer clip. I think I can last 2 weeks food wise.

:biggrin:

That might make a decent reality show... "Can he get an old bike road-legal using only his wits and whatever bits are lying around the house before the food and beer run out? Will he descend into madness over a tiny spring clip? Witness the agony and the ecstasy on This Olde Bike..."

 

[Grimly]

:biggrin:

That might make a decent reality show... "Can he get an old bike road-legal using only his wits and whatever bits are lying around the house before the food and beer run out? Will he descend into madness over a tiny spring clip? Witness the agony and the ecstasy on This Olde Bike..."

That's me in the winter, that is.
<weather forecast>
"Duff that."

 

[rphillips]

ebay, put in headlight retainer spring clip motorcycle... some look reasonable???

 

[oldGSfan]

I may have a couple of those around. A hair clip could work the little black ones that are everywhere. Pretty sproingy.

 

[Suzukian]

Soft tension springs can be used to form a triangle and hold the light in place. They sell those everywhere. Some rubber tubing over them to prevent any scratching, you're good to go.

 

[ukjules]

good suggestions. I am down to only 3 cans carlsberg.

I reckon unless I find wire in say the kettle spring lid mechanism or the likes that eBay
the headlight retainer spring clip, and bodgify that as it will be the correct springyness.
hairpin yes .... of course like gold dust here .....

​​​​​​

 

[Suzukian]

It really sucks when all the hardware stores disappear. We have one left, but his stock is getting pretty low. I don't think he will last long. The Piano Wire trick I mentioned is what we did when we made instruments for an outfit I worked for. They needed really weird shape springs, and had to bend them themselves. We would hold a 10' piece of wire, and stretch it, till it stretched, and you would feel it stretch, and it would harden. You could wrap a coil, or bend, and it would stay in that position, like spring steel. Few places sell piano wire, now that you mention it. I used to make those clips out of metal coat hangers, but even those are all plastic now.