Has any one had experience with repo parts from India as to fit and quality. I was looking at getting a blackout hood for my M20 headlight DU42 6 1/2inch but not sure whether to take the plunge or not. Cost is reasonable but a bit concerned re quality.

email (option): tknalder@iinet.net.au

Hi Kim

The problem with ordering directly from India is that you probably wont get the one pictured, so its pot luck, also its pretty expensive to return it if its no good.

There are some dealers who resell Indian made copies nearer to home but they are quite a bit more expensive, which isn't really a surprise as they need to make a profit and have taken the risk on your behalf.

But at least if you fit a poor copy of a blackout mask you don't risk your face crashing into the road like you do with the girder forks.

All you can do is read the sellers feedback and see what previous buyer thought.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

I have bought several Indian made parts for the M20 and A10 and have no complaints. I got a repro headlamp with the blackout sheild but managed to hammer out the dents from the original shell so fitted the repro rim with blackout to this and had no problems.

The Indian DU42 blackout lights are perfect. I was offered an original at great cost, when I compared the 2 they are exactly the same. I wonder if they've got an original mould.

email (option): horror@blueyonder.co.uk

I have had an Indian blackout mask and headlamp for a long while. The headlamp is OK but has a blanking plate where the ammeter/light switch went. However the mask fitted straight on to my original lamp and the original glass and rim fit the copy exactly. If you have an original lamp, then you could transfer the ammeter/switch from the original.

email (option): stinkypete80@hotmail.com

Just because one is good it doesn't mean the next one will be.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

I'm glad to hear the Indians seem to have got this part right...Generally, however, I wouldn't consider in any way you can buy with confidence...

Many Indian parts are simply not fit for purpose and as Rob notes a lack of quality control can produce variations in different examples of the 'same' part....

I'd also imagine there is more than one company producing this stuff...There's certainly more than one selling it with a clear knowledge that much of it is not 'up to snuff'...

To conclude, if no original part is available it can be worth a go but in my experience buying Indian parts is a lottery in most cases...Good luck!...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I bought an 8" headlamp from India and only used the shell. I had all other original parts to make it complete and all parts and especially the rim fitted the shell exactly.

Henk

email (option): ahum@quicknet.nl

If it looks good on the photo’s you have some work on it to make it look good.

If it looks rubbish on the photo’s DON’T buy it!

The blackout masks are pretty good. You need to replace the bolts and buts for propper looking ones. And it needs a paint job!

I just ordered and received an Indian made DU42 blackout light mask and it is gorgeous! Factory stamped and seats correctly in the original headlight shell with no modification.
It took about two weeks to arrive from India to the U.S.
Zero problems.
Sandblasted their paint off and removed the modern screws it it is pretty!

email (option): questmasters(at)hotmail(dot)com

Firstly none of you bought any parts from a COUNTRY, you bought them from a VENDOR so saying you got one that was good or was trash is absolutely no benefit to any man nor his dog.

If you want OPINIONS about a particular item, post the link to it and the vendors name.
Then people who have bought from that particular VENDOR can tell you what they thought of the end product.

All sorts of manipulations of ebay feed back can & have been done so the feedback is not particularly accurate.
Add to that the reluctnce of customers to leave negative feedback when they buy something that is total rubbish if the vendor refunds their money skews the feedback results

email (option): bsansw1@tpg.com.au

I bought my headlamp blackout mask on eBay from the seller: rsvintageparts2014

Same feedback as I listed above. A very nice part.

email (option): questmasters(at)hotmail(dot)com

Trevor is spot-on here. Unfortunately, as far as I'm aware, no seller or better still manufacturer in India has ever engaged in any way beyond eBay with potential buyers in the West. No magazine articles or advertising. Nothing via the various specialised forums.

The nett result here is that none of them have built up a reputation to back up their products. Compare this with, for instance Vintage Steel who make mudguards in the US. Paul Norman in the UK who makes Norton parts - They are prepared to discuss their products and their names are a guarantee of quality.

This forum has shown that most of us are prepared to buy products from India (I use their tyres) but the pattern parts makers have to stop hiding behind multiple re-sellers. In the absence of this, buying remains a lottery.

Did anyone ever try the M20 gear box outer covers from India ?
(i need one !)

My India repo blackout hood arrived in todays mail. considering it was sent during the festive season took about 3 weeks to Western Australia. The hood fitted without any trouble and finish is good. Priced at $65.00 Aust including postage was very reasonable I thought.
All that is required is to paint same colour as my bike and replace the phillips screws with flat blade type consistent with the bikes period. The only criticism I have is India Post tracking system is next to useless. You are given a tracking number but you can't track your item, so left in the dark.

The company Danish Auto Parts were fairly new to Ebay but have 100% feedback.

email (option): tknalder@iinet.net.au

Kim the blackout masks were often satin black from the factory, which can make life easier with a rattle can. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Thanks for the info Ron. Yes I will do it in satin black as it will be much easier, in fact I use black brake drum and caliper paint in spray can quite a bit as it is more durable than ordinary enamel and has a satin type finish.

email (option): tknalder@iinet.net.au

My Headlamp buy in India..











Seems foud in a bomb hole 75 years after!

email (option): m606paz@yahoo.com.ar

Did you clean up the headlamp on the outside? I guess it was as rusty as on the inside... And that rusty blackout mask also comes from India?

Jan

email (option): wd.register(at)gmail.com

Hi Jan! Yes from India! in and outside all rusty
These they sell it unpainted, it is of lower price
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACKOUT-LIGHT-LUCAS-TYPE-6-5-034-FOR-BSA-TRIUMPH-NORTON-MATCHELESS-AJS-ARIEL/223310856358?hash=item33fe5d40a6:g:pCAAAOSwawZbVwR2:rk:7:pf:0

Now painted and installed..

email (option): m606paz@yahoo.com.ar

Luis the headlamp brackets for these are just flat bar and easy to produce.




And here are what the speedo brackets look like. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

OK it's rusty, but it doensn't look that bad, does it ?

Hello Ron! Thanks for the photos. This in the list of changes, the headlamps brackets. I have drawings.

email (option): m606paz@yahoo.com.ar

The blackout lamps are not too bad, there's one or two things that make them identifyable as repro's, so that is a good thing I guess.

The WD taillamps are very bad though, why go through all the tooling costs to make something that is so obviously wrong?


Then there is the Welbike repro parts, a friend thought the repro from Welbike-UK was too much, and ordered one in India, from this seller:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vintage-WWII-Welbike-Excelsior-Paratrooper-Mark-1-MK2-Seat-Base-Unit-CDN/273610339063?hash=item3fb47272f7:g:B2wAAOSwVEFcE4mE:rk:2:pf:0


Sofar so good, until he got it in, and brought it over to me, well, let the pictures speak for itself, even the tube diameter is 3mm. too thick! it cannot be modified into a more acceptable shape, only good for scrap metal!


As ordered.


Original seat.


Indian repro on the right!

It's very nice the manufacturer employs blind people too, but some form of quality control would be very handy!:joy:

Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbi##.net (think about this!)