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Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:55 pm

My buggy came with Dietz-copy headlights housings with a school bell at the bottom and wiring thru the mounting bolt. As they kinda needed replacing anyway, I was on the hunt for Dietz 9-82s.

Someone on Ebay must have an inventory of NOS 9-82s.. but the Black painted version. Twice I was overbid into the low $120s - lucky me. I found a chrome set, with a proper amount of aging, for less - listed as 'Rat Rod' headlamps.

Two questions.. 1) When mounted on a buggy is there a flange between the base of the lamp and the fiberglass pedestal. .. 2) Is there typically a rubber grommet at the back of the lamp housing.. and maybe at the wiring port in the body? Thanks.

Jim

(as a sight vs. words person - a picture would also be helpful if you are able.)

Thu Aug 08, 2013 5:23 pm

9-82s I've seen came with the thick cast mount cups and no hole in the shell. The wires ran through the hollow mount bolt.

If they didn't come with the cast cups, then use a pair of the pressed steel type. Fill the underside of the cup with Bondo hair and put some aluminum foil over the mounts on the body and press the cup down onto it to conform to the shape. Wipe off the excess and wait for it to cure. It should make a perfect fit and spread the load better. They didn't originally come with rubber grommets but you could use them if you prefer.

Fri Aug 09, 2013 5:52 am

Thanks BL3.. The wiring comes thru the bolt in all the modern copies (makes for cleaner install) but it appears the wiring on the originals came out the back. I found a better picture of the Dietz 9-82001. (there may be another Dietz model # with the thru-the-bolt wiring, but I am unable to find it)

You cannot see it in this picture, but the flanges at the base are also hollow on these, just not as bell-shaped as the modern copies. There are even some very nice stainless copies so you do not have to worry about Chinese chrome.

I did a BSA Gold Star cafe racer in the 70's and a DONZI Sweet Sixteen in the 80's finding it fun to source period parts.

Jim

Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:55 am

Jim, I went back to check and saw that it appears there were a couple of different styles of 9-82. The chrome ones I have had the top of the shell stamped 9-82 and have hollow bolts and no hole in the shell. They also had the cast cups.

I also have some black ones that have solid bolts and holes in the shell with grommets. I also have black ones that only the rim is stamped 9-82 and have solid bolts and pressed steel cups. (I put the 9-82 rim on the 9-82 shell in the picture, but originally it was on a plain shell)

I agree, I prefer American made Dietz headlights to the new imported replacements, but FWIW, I'm pretty sure all the original 60s and early 70s buggies came with Dietz 820s. However all you need to find is one original exception to show they also came with 9-82s.

I've got a couple Gold Stars too. One's a 59 Catalina and one's a 63 Hap Alzina west coast special.

Fri Aug 09, 2013 11:56 am

Cool. Now there's a proper library stop for the next wandering Googler.

My shells are unmarked but the rim is. In some respects I would think the wire-in-stem would be better, but the external wiring funky'er. Thanks for taking the effort.

You still got your Goldies, eh? I finished mine in a 5th floor apartment in Detroit ..and used to ride my clip-on thumper around Blade Runner city on weekends. (back up the elevator at night) Cheers.

Jim

Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:55 pm

I've got them but they're not running. I've got too many projects and can't pass up another when a good one comes along. I can't concentrate on one long enough to finish.

Detroit is a great place for old bikes. I bought a 38 Indian 4 in Flint in the late 80s. Someday I want to visit the Bradbury Building in L.A. where they filmed Blade Runner.