Please help me choose a handle bar high-low beam switch for my 1941 WM20. I have several types of Lucas switches without integrated horn button and do not know which, if any, to use. One, the triangular brass switch, has traces of WD green.

Photos of properly set-up handlebar controls would be very helpful.

Jeff Bandola



http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/Beeza_guy/library/HiLoSwitches

email (option): jjbandoo@aol.com

Jeff the early BSA levers have the horn and dip switch mounted on the back of the levers.
If you have the later levers, then the dip switch would probably have been deleted. So any period switch will do.

A Lucas 31482 was well used at that time and is the type fitted to at least the early WD Norton's. There are nice replicas on the market. Unfortunately they only come for 7/8" bars which is fine for an M20. Although with a struggle, I did manage to fit a 7/8 original to my Big 4.

See them quite cheap on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replica-Lucas-dip-switch-with-diamond-shaped-lever-LU31482A-7-8-/261547043343?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3ce56b2a0f

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Jeff, the switch which Ron has linked to is pretty much your no.3 from the look of it. This was a long-running switch which finally ended up being used on the two-tone horns of Commando Interpols.

As Ron says, whether yours will have had a dip switch originally depends on date of manufacture. There was a DME circular dated 3/12/1940 which gave details of the replacement of separate horn and dip switches with a combined item. On 12/5/1941 though, they instructed the removal altogether (this occurred when the new type headlamp masks were fitted).

Generally, changes like this in service took place later than production changes.

Your No.3 would certainly look OK, although it's difficult to be precise from photographs, some had more of a diamond-shaped lever, others a 'rat-turd' shape and some may well have had the smaller ridged lever such as on your chrome switch. Lucas were a problem as they superseded with everything but retained part numbers and they also frequently re-introduced older patterns after a break.

The squarish switch that you have with the green paint is, I think post-war but I can't remember what I've seen them on.

See I'm not getting any pictures from Jeff's album? Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Ron, it's not working as it should but if you click top left on Beeza-Guy's bucket....then you see everything loaded onto that album. Fortunately, it's only bike stuff !

Thanks, Ron and Rik,

I cannot always remember how to link photos from Photobucket and could not do so last night! Sorry for the extra work of sorting through my photobucket to answer the question. I appreciate Ron's photo of the controls, with the brass choke and advance levers. You chaps have an amazing knowledge of these machines and are quick to help first-timers like me.

I have a combination horn/dipswitch in dull chrome that will go on the left bar. I really thought the early-looking bakelite switches were correct, but hey, the War was on.

The 720cc M20 I'm finishing up now has an early frame and a late engine and was assembled from parts so will never be "correct." The 1945 WM20 I got from Robb Nortier has no dipswitch, only a dull chrome horn button. The handle bars and levers were painted black, like the bike Henry McGill sits on. Even though it was repainted and "restored" in the 1970's I am leaving as it is, and going through it mechanically. I did that for my daughter's '53 Star Twin dresser that's in my Photobucket, and it takes an awful lot of restraint.

Jeff Bandola

email (option): jjbandoo@aol.com

One, the triangular brass switch, has traces of WD green.
Jeff that one is for a early BSA bantam....

Hmm. It's a substantial piece of kit that one.

email (option): jjbandoo@aol.com