Classic & Vintage - Fender Mounted Taillight Installation Question

I'm finally getting around to reinstalling the fenders on my UE-8 and am installing a different taillight on the fender because the lens on the original light was missing and the one I bought was the closest I could find at the time I bought it. The new light is a little longer and a little wider.

The original light had a gasket on the rear of the body whereas the replacement does not. Should I bother with sealing the light with a gasket of some sort? If so, what is the best thing to as a gasket replacement on the new light? I'm sort of at a loss other than using a piece of inner tube and I'm not sure that's going to work very well.

Suggestions please!

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6179917220_081434e06f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6179917220/)
Peugeot Taillights - 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6179917220/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6155/6179923038_aeef077f1b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6179923038/)
Peugeot Taillights - 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6179923038/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

No need to seal. The older Soubitez taillights didn't have them. It looks like the replacement you have is a Cibie... do you know if that model ever came with a gasket?

The Cibie (yes that's the replacement) arrived without any gasket/seal and I don't know if it had a seal/gasket to begin with. The original which appears to be a Soubitez, had the gasket/seal. As long as it didn't have a seal to start with, I suppose it doesn't matter whether it is sealed or not.

Couple of tricks, you could lay a nice small round bead of silicone around the back outer edge of the tailight and allow to dry, then it becomes a gasket when you snug the light up. I will quite often seal the grommet where the wire comes through with a dab of silicone. Also make sure the light can drain if any water gets into it.

Aaron :)

Couple of tricks, you could lay a nice small round bead of silicone around the back outer edge of the tailight and allow to dry, then it becomes a gasket when you snug the light up. I will quite often seal the grommet where the wire comes through with a dab of silicone. Also make sure the light can drain if any water gets into it.

Aaron :)

This is what I was thinking too. Also, I wonder if you'll experience some annoying metal-against-metal rattling if you don't seal it.

Never notice it on my bikes...I am over half deaf and ride on gravel and rough roads, so rattles are a normal part of the ride.

Aaron :)

Couple of tricks, you could lay a nice small round bead of silicone around the back outer edge of the tailight and allow to dry, then it becomes a gasket when you snug the light up. I will quite often seal the grommet where the wire comes through with a dab of silicone. Also make sure the light can drain if any water gets into it.

Aaron :)

I had thought about that, but wasn't sure whether it would be a good idea or not. Anyway, I just decided to put it on with anything sealing it. I think it'll be OK and if it rattles, it's easy enough to remedy later on.

This is what I was thinking too. Also, I wonder if you'll experience some annoying metal-against-metal rattling if you don't seal it.

Since I just attached it to the bike, it seems to be pretty tight. I'll be surprised if it rattles even without a gasket or bead of silicone.

Never notice it on my bikes...I am over half deaf and ride on gravel and rough roads, so rattles are a normal part of the ride.

Aaron :)

Sounds like the kind of riding I do. The C&O canal trail is pretty rough in spots, so I sort of expect rattles too.

No rattling on my Soubitez Catalux 6:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5519821654_075088f75f_z.jpg

Two mounting bolts, one at top and one at bottom, hold it nice and snug:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5493022555_7d9d7bc71b_z.jpg

No rattling on my Soubitez Catalux 6:

Two mounting bolts, one at top and one at bottom, hold it nice and snug:

That looks great! Are those the zeppelin fenders?

Seems I remember you saying you had a source for those somewhere a while back. Do you care to share where you're getting them from? I'd love to get my hands on some of those, if possible.

Since I just attached it to the bike, it seems to be pretty tight. I'll be surprised if it rattles even without a gasket or bead of silicone.


Never notice it on my bikes...I am over half deaf and ride on gravel and rough roads, so rattles are a normal part of the ride.


The bike in the picture above is used almost exclusively for gravel/dirt roads and fire trails, and gets a lot of "abuse". In about 500 miles of dirt road and trail riding thus far, nary a rattle. The key is to use star washers or nylock nuts on all the fender and taillight mounting points. Otherwise, fasteners are likely to work their way loose.


That looks great! Are those the zeppelin fenders?

Seems I remember you saying you had a source for those somewhere a while back. Do you care to share where you're getting them from? I'd love to get my hands on some of those, if possible.

Yep, Zeps. I wish I did have a source for those taillights! Unfortunately, ePay is my source. I found that one on ebay.fr and ended up winning it for a little less than they typically fetch on US eBay... which is to say, still more than anyone could have predicted these would fetch five years ago.