Headlight Bucket bent at turn signal mount

[CLJL]

I searched but couldn't find any comments on this topic. Sorry if I missed it.

Right turn signal on a CL175 was bent and that caused the mounting point on the headlight bucket to be deformed, bent inward so that the turn signal mounting rod is now at a sharp angle to bike and bucket.
I need to bend the mounting point back to its original plane to make the turn signal rod angle correct.
Does anyone have any experience with straightening the mount point on the bucket out so the turn signal mounts straight?

I tried making a kind of puller out of a bolt and several washers, but no matter how tight I have made it (so far) there's no change in the angle of the mounting point.
I also tried to secure the bucket (which is still on the bike) and bend the mounting point back in line using the turn signal rod itself. Wouldn't budge.

If anybody has a system for dealing with this, let me know.

I can send photos if that would help. If I can figure out how to do it in the forum.

Thanks.

 

[LongDistanceRider]

Pictures will help, this will guide you on how to post https://www.vintagehondatwins.com/forums/showthread.php?343-VHT-Forum-Navigation-tips

 

[CLJL]

Thanks for the help, LongDistanceRider.
Here are some photos.

 

[rortiz5]

I had a similar issue with mine from the PO laying it down. Have you tried heating up the bucket from the inside then pulling?

 

[CLJL]

Thanks.
I was thinking of that but was concerned that if I got it hot enough to pull out I'd wreck the paint. And now that I think of it, melt wires.
Did heating it work for you?

 

[rortiz5]

Thanks.
I was thinking of that but was concerned that if I got it hot enough to pull out I'd wreck the paint. And now that I think of it, melt wires.
Did heating it work for you?

No it didn’t, unfortunately. I ended up buying a decent used one off eBay.

 

[ancientdad]

I was thinking of that but was concerned that if I got it hot enough to pull out I'd wreck the paint.

And if it got hot enough to bend it absolutely will wreck the paint. Even if you used that approach you should pull the front forks apart and take the headlight case off the bike to do it properly.

 

[CLJL]

That's what I was afraid of.
Thanks.

 

[ancientdad]

A good body repair guy could do something with it and with the right tools you probably could too, but bends like that are tough to manage well because it's double thickness metal in that spot,

 

[CLJL]

Thanks.
I was thinking it may come to that: calling in the professionals.

 

[ballbearian]

Thanks.
I was thinking it may come to that: calling in the professionals.

If you do go for it yourself, I'd remove the turn signal lamp from the support stalk and put a long fat phillips screwdriver in it to support the stalk and maybe a big cheater pipe over that for leverage. Then save the money for a replacement bucket.

 

[jpg366]

Since you can get to the inside, it seems better to use a press to push outward. With it off the bike and stripped of wiring. The likelihood of the paint cracking is there.


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