What lights can fit on an old Spécialités TA front rack?
03-17-18, 10:33 AM
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What lights can fit on an old Spécialités TA front rack?
I have an old Spécialités TA “rack,” which is really a support for a large handlebar bag, on a Motobecane. These racks have a short stub for mounting a light, but the stub is only about a quarter inch in diameter. Are there any modern lights designed to fit on such a thin post? What about old lights?
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03-17-18, 12:02 PM
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03-17-18, 06:16 PM
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I did one, but I can't remember how. This is on my "zero bike", which resides at a friend's house in the People's Republic of Berkeley, so no way for me to check right now:
Maybe I threaded the rod and put an extension on it? It's probably 6mm, not 1/4", since it's french. Should be able to use an M6 die to thread it along with a female standoff.
Maybe I threaded the rod and put an extension on it? It's probably 6mm, not 1/4", since it's french. Should be able to use an M6 die to thread it along with a female standoff.
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03-17-18, 06:38 PM
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I did one, but I can't remember how. This is on my "zero bike", which resides at a friend's house in the People's Republic of Berkeley, so no way for me to check right now:
(Snip)
Maybe I threaded the rod and put an extension on it? It's probably 6mm, not 1/4", since it's french. Should be able to use an M6 die to thread it along with a female standoff.
(Snip)
Maybe I threaded the rod and put an extension on it? It's probably 6mm, not 1/4", since it's french. Should be able to use an M6 die to thread it along with a female standoff.
Thanks Gugie. I’d still love to know what the rack was designed to work with, but being able to put on a modern light would be nice too.
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03-17-18, 08:01 PM
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Check the bolt size it could be 4.0, 4.4.5 or 5.0 but ounce you get the bolt size correct you should be able to mount bolt pretty much any standard light you just may need to buy a bolt for $1.00 or less at a better stacked local hardware store. Also Gugies light is mounted to a demi fender/light half way the fork mount which were very common on nicer 60's bikes I which they would have kept them nice spot to mount nearly anything you want..
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03-17-18, 10:30 PM
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...Maybe I threaded the rod and put an extension on it? It's probably 6mm, not 1/4", since it's french. Should be able to use an M6 die to thread it along with a female standoff.
I don’t have an updated closeup photo in my album, but you can see what I intended to do on my ‘79 Trek.
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03-18-18, 07:53 AM
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I believe I did the same thing. I threaded the stub just enough for two nylock nuts and the light. I threaded the inner nylock nut, added the light, then tightened both nuts. Probably a toothed washer in there... It was a good excuse to buy a cheep metric tap and die set. I think I tried 5mm, but it could have been 6mm.
I don’t have an updated closeup photo in my album, but you can see what I intended to do on my ‘79 Trek.
I don’t have an updated closeup photo in my album, but you can see what I intended to do on my ‘79 Trek.
Now I know what I need to look for. Thanks everyone.
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03-18-18, 08:20 AM
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This is mountaindave’s arrangement showing both his light and the rack’s plain wire stud:
And here is my stud, which is larger in diameter and has a hole in the middle. The pic is too fuzzy to see, but the hole is threaded.
And here is my stud, which is larger in diameter and has a hole in the middle. The pic is too fuzzy to see, but the hole is threaded.
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03-18-18, 08:26 AM
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Thanks for the assist - can’t post photos from iOS...
You just need the correct bolt (and maybe a toothed washer) and Bob’s your uncle!
You just need the correct bolt (and maybe a toothed washer) and Bob’s your uncle!
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1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
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03-18-18, 08:37 AM
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Heh. I posted these photos from an iPad. :-) I had to fuss a bit to do it though!
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03-18-18, 09:00 AM
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That information is worthy of its own thread.
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1970 Gitane TdF; 1973 Gitane TdF
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1979 Trek 710; 1981 Trek 412; 1981 Trek 710
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1984 Ross Mt. Hood
1988 Centurion Ironman Expert
1991 Bridgestone RB-1
1992 Serotta Colorado TG
2015 Elephant NFE
03-18-18, 10:33 AM
#13
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I'm still kind of curious if anyone has a picture of one of these racks with a vintage light mounted. It must have been something fairly common once. Perhaps a Soubitez front lamp would mount to it with some sort of stamped steel hardware?
03-18-18, 02:39 PM
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Aubergine-
TA racks came in 3 versions: without a light support wire, with an unthreaded L shaped wire for a clamp and with the threaded boss that you have at the end of the L shaped wire. I had an identical one and it held a Soubitez headlight securely. The Soubitezs came with a serrated washer crimped to the light housing mounting bracket and mounted right up securely to the TA boss. They aren't terrific for light pattern even with an LED replacement for the OEM halogen bulb. Some specifics here, if you need them.
I added a photo below showing the Soubitez mounting tab.
TA racks came in 3 versions: without a light support wire, with an unthreaded L shaped wire for a clamp and with the threaded boss that you have at the end of the L shaped wire. I had an identical one and it held a Soubitez headlight securely. The Soubitezs came with a serrated washer crimped to the light housing mounting bracket and mounted right up securely to the TA boss. They aren't terrific for light pattern even with an LED replacement for the OEM halogen bulb. Some specifics here, if you need them.
I added a photo below showing the Soubitez mounting tab.
Last edited by bertinjim; 03-18-18 at 02:50 PM. Reason: grammatical error
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03-18-18, 02:59 PM
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You see the from time to time on eBay France with lights mounted in various fashion.
03-18-18, 04:09 PM
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Aubergine-
TA racks came in 3 versions: without a light support wire, with an unthreaded L shaped wire for a clamp and with the threaded boss that you have at the end of the L shaped wire. I had an identical one and it held a Soubitez headlight securely. The Soubitezs came with a serrated washer crimped to the light housing mounting bracket and mounted right up securely to the TA boss. They aren't terrific for light pattern even with an LED replacement for the OEM halogen bulb. Some specifics here, if you need them.
TA racks came in 3 versions: without a light support wire, with an unthreaded L shaped wire for a clamp and with the threaded boss that you have at the end of the L shaped wire. I had an identical one and it held a Soubitez headlight securely. The Soubitezs came with a serrated washer crimped to the light housing mounting bracket and mounted right up securely to the TA boss. They aren't terrific for light pattern even with an LED replacement for the OEM halogen bulb. Some specifics here, if you need them.
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03-18-18, 08:11 PM
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I just spent 15 minutes on ebay France lusting over whatever came up by searching velo ancien. Crocodile fenders. I need those! Obscure cantilever brakes. Need those too, at least I think I do. Shoot. Thanks a lot...
03-18-18, 09:08 PM
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-18-18, 09:48 PM
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Funny. I tore myself away before I did any bidding. May be tempted to peek at them tomorrow, not that I bothered looking at the end dates. I'd be happy if you bid on those and got them, to save me from the temptation. Croc fenders - too cool.
03-19-18, 10:56 AM
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Yeah, but at 180 Euros + shipping? Ouch!
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
03-19-18, 01:24 PM
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Ouch indeed. I somehow didn't notice the price. That's about 3 sets of Honjo fenders. Might be worth it for the right bike.
03-19-18, 05:08 PM
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Well, I've seen them for €180 + an aluminum rack but also for €70... 
French eBay is dangerous. I just made a small mistake or three on there.
French eBay is dangerous. I just made a small mistake or three on there.
03-19-18, 05:29 PM
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Well, I've seen them for €180 + an aluminum rack but also for €70...
French eBay is dangerous. I just made a small mistake or three on there.
French eBay is dangerous. I just made a small mistake or three on there.
Affaires ŕ suivre
Pro tip, if you're into garde-boue, have them shippped "sans tringles". The steel stays are heavy and take up room for shipping. VO has new aluminum stays and hardware for $8.
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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