How I mounted a taillight
11-01-09 | 10:40 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: Down South
How I mounted a taillight
I have a flashlight that burns an 18650 battery and throws a red beam.
I had been using it as a taillight on my utility bike. That was easy -- just zip-tied it to the rear rack.
But I most often ride my road bike to work, not my utility bike, and with the time change to darker skies in the evening I wanted to use the red beamer as a taillight during my commutes.
No rack to zip-tie it to, however.
So, I scratched around in my shop, trying to find something ... and I turned up a mount for a fishing rod. I had bought it for my old boat but sold the boat before I could use it.
I tried it out on the flashlight -- it held the light well, and was easy to release, as well, which is important, because the battery is hard to get out of this one -- you really have to give it some encouragement, more than can be done if it is attached to the LeMond.
So ... I took off my seatbag, emptied it, drilled four holes in the bottom (that aligned with the holes on the fishing rod mount), and used a rivet gun to mount it to the bag.
Works great!
Here a pix of the what I started with, and another mounted light.
The light, the mount and the rivet tool ....
And the mounted taillight....
I've been lucky about recycling different mounts to get lights where I want them, or just creating mounts out of what I have handy.
The PB SuperFlash, for example, is hanging on two zip-ties stretched between the tabs on the back of my Brooks saddle. It just slips on and off, but it stays where it it is supposed to stay, and is pointed perfectly.
I had been using it as a taillight on my utility bike. That was easy -- just zip-tied it to the rear rack.
But I most often ride my road bike to work, not my utility bike, and with the time change to darker skies in the evening I wanted to use the red beamer as a taillight during my commutes.
No rack to zip-tie it to, however.
So, I scratched around in my shop, trying to find something ... and I turned up a mount for a fishing rod. I had bought it for my old boat but sold the boat before I could use it.
I tried it out on the flashlight -- it held the light well, and was easy to release, as well, which is important, because the battery is hard to get out of this one -- you really have to give it some encouragement, more than can be done if it is attached to the LeMond.
So ... I took off my seatbag, emptied it, drilled four holes in the bottom (that aligned with the holes on the fishing rod mount), and used a rivet gun to mount it to the bag.
Works great!
Here a pix of the what I started with, and another mounted light.
The light, the mount and the rivet tool ....
And the mounted taillight....
I've been lucky about recycling different mounts to get lights where I want them, or just creating mounts out of what I have handy.
The PB SuperFlash, for example, is hanging on two zip-ties stretched between the tabs on the back of my Brooks saddle. It just slips on and off, but it stays where it it is supposed to stay, and is pointed perfectly.
11-04-09 | 11:45 AM
#6
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 6
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
11-04-09 | 02:31 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 2
From: Down South
Flashlight is an Ultrafire. I got it through Amazon -- not sure what was the real source.
It is not P-7 bright, but it does a good job.
No beam shots, but not as focused as a Fenix L2D and not as broad as my P-7 Ultrafire.
It is not P-7 bright, but it does a good job.
No beam shots, but not as focused as a Fenix L2D and not as broad as my P-7 Ultrafire.
11-04-09 | 03:27 PM
#8
Spinning @ 33 RPM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 3
From: NE Ohio
Bikes: '89 Fuji Saratoga, '97 Schwinn Mesa SS, '07 Felt F1X, '10 Transition TransAM, '11 Soma Analog SS
Very cool. I have a light like that from when I flew planes. Had been thinking about mounting it up, but I already have so many blinkies. I guess one more light won't hurt.
11-04-09 | 04:57 PM
#9
Cyclologist
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
From: On 2 Wheels
Bikes: Trek 4500, Trek 7.5 FX
11-05-09 | 09:11 PM
#11
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I found these. I hope they will do the trick; 2 for $15.00 USD shipped:
https://us.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?go=...o.x=22&go.y=13
https://us.ebid.net/perl/main.cgi?go=...o.x=22&go.y=13
Last edited by elopetomexico; 11-05-09 at 09:14 PM.
