Paso specialist
Paso specialist
It seems like there is a web site for alot of older bikes out there for the go to guy who knows everything about them, has used parts to sell. And some will address inherent design flaws buy producing aftermarket parts even. Some of the bikes to mind are Honda CBs. A lot more built but much older too.
Yes, there is Ed in California. Rudy in the Netherlands. But they just sell used parts which many unfortunately are damaged. I have been looking for signal lenses and tail light lens Euro favored. And it is hard to get them without damage. I guess I'm really overlooking the obvious of the few Pasos produced.
Now finally to the point, there are some parts that you can't substitute as in the light lenses.
I have thought of reproducing signal lenses. I'd say they break more often than tail lights in a crash. At first I thought of having them reproduced by injection moulding. But to have the aluminum die or mould is very expensive. Probably not get even close to selling enough to break even financially. So I did find some places online where auto lenses have been copied by hand making acrylic moulds. Even a Euro two color lens is possible.
So if I produced good quality signal lenses. Is there enough interest out there to make it worth my time? Or is there some other part that comes to mind?
Yes, there is Ed in California. Rudy in the Netherlands. But they just sell used parts which many unfortunately are damaged. I have been looking for signal lenses and tail light lens Euro favored. And it is hard to get them without damage. I guess I'm really overlooking the obvious of the few Pasos produced.
Now finally to the point, there are some parts that you can't substitute as in the light lenses.
I have thought of reproducing signal lenses. I'd say they break more often than tail lights in a crash. At first I thought of having them reproduced by injection moulding. But to have the aluminum die or mould is very expensive. Probably not get even close to selling enough to break even financially. So I did find some places online where auto lenses have been copied by hand making acrylic moulds. Even a Euro two color lens is possible.
So if I produced good quality signal lenses. Is there enough interest out there to make it worth my time? Or is there some other part that comes to mind?
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- model: 907 I.E.
- year: 1993
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Re: Paso specialist
count me in for several. Arch.
- ducinthebay
- paso grand pooh-bah
- Posts: 1323
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
- model: 750 Sport
- year: 1990
- Location: SF Bay Area
Re: Paso specialist
Certainly.
Start with the front turn signals, then do tail lights, and I think you have a going concern. Mold them 0.5mm thicker so they are a bit more durable. I don't know why they made them so thin. (and I do a lot of injection molding design)
Keep me in touch in your search. I might be able to mold them also. But as you say, tooling costs will quickly consume and potential profit. it will take several years to pay off a tool. If you have CAD data on the lenses, that would certainly help.
Cheers, Phil
Start with the front turn signals, then do tail lights, and I think you have a going concern. Mold them 0.5mm thicker so they are a bit more durable. I don't know why they made them so thin. (and I do a lot of injection molding design)
Keep me in touch in your search. I might be able to mold them also. But as you say, tooling costs will quickly consume and potential profit. it will take several years to pay off a tool. If you have CAD data on the lenses, that would certainly help.
Cheers, Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
Re: Paso specialist
Thank guys for the interest, and Phil I will follow up with you on this. To make the lens thicker means not doing hand made moulds which is the least expensive. So what I'm going to do is have a local machinist do a laser dimension read on a lens so he can give me an accurate quote on producing dies from his CNC machine. It sounds like you have more knowledge on this. Pursuing injection moulding what do you think?
- ducinthebay
- paso grand pooh-bah
- Posts: 1323
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:00 am
- model: 750 Sport
- year: 1990
- Location: SF Bay Area
Re: Paso specialist
Yes, I have some experience in injection molding. (25 years) I start a new job on Monday for a prototype house, Studio Fathom. One of my objectives will be making an injection mold tool in a week by 3D printing a tool. Stay tuned to see how difficult that may be. If you can get me the 3D scan data, that would speed things up.
Cheers, Phil
Cheers, Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
1991 907 -mostly stock
2002 ST4s - Lots of mods.
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- model: 907 I.E.
- year: 1992
- Location: Essex UK
Re: Paso specialist
Replacement clear instrument panel screens for paso might be required.
Re: Paso specialist
You are absolutely right. I'm still working with a local machinist that also has a plastic injection molding machine to come up with a reasonable deal to make turn signal lenses. To make this easy for him I must first get a 3D scan which he can't do. So I'm working on finding the right guy to let me get it done at a local university. I think from what I have already learned about this a part as large as the instrument cover will be very expensive to have a mold made for it. The mold fits in a frame which for something holding a signal lens would be at least a one foot cube made of steel. A frame to hold an instrument cover would be more than twice that size. The larger the frame then the larger the injection machine also. Hopefully soon I will have a cost per lens on a run of at least 100 or so for samples.
- fasterdammit
- paso grand pooh-bah
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- model: 750 Paso
- year: 1988
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Re: Paso specialist
I'm in for a couple front turn signal lenses, and possibly a new Euro taillight. (I have one now, although there's a slight chip in it.
I've toyed with the idea of making an LED brake/turn/tail light assembly, if ever there were a single, clear lens alternative. I'm not sure if an LED option would sit right with classic bikes such as the Paso, though. Newer bikes, sure, but LEDs just aren't "period correct" for the Paso ...
I've toyed with the idea of making an LED brake/turn/tail light assembly, if ever there were a single, clear lens alternative. I'm not sure if an LED option would sit right with classic bikes such as the Paso, though. Newer bikes, sure, but LEDs just aren't "period correct" for the Paso ...
Just because you're not dead doesn't necessarily mean you're living, either.
1988 Paso 750 #753965
1997 Monster 750
1988 Paso 750 #753965
1997 Monster 750
- ducapaso
- paso grand pooh-bah
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- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:00 am
- model: 750 Paso
- year: 1988
- Location: siena, italy
- Contact:
Re: Paso specialist
Any dash instrument cover?
have a nice ride, Nicola
Black "DUKE" 751582
ex...Red "smooth" 753349
Black "DUKE" 751582
ex...Red "smooth" 753349
- paso750
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- year: 1987
- Location: southern Germany
Re: Paso specialist
Nicola, sometimes I wonder if you read the threads you post in
Re: Paso specialist
Hello Nicola, I assume the company CEV that is embossed on the turn signal lenses is from Italy? Can you contact them if they still exist and see about more being made? I have not had the instruments out of my bike yet. Maybe CEV produced that cover too.
- ducapaso
- paso grand pooh-bah
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- Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2004 12:00 am
- model: 750 Paso
- year: 1988
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Re: Paso specialist
CEV discontinued production and throw away anything needed to restart production
have a nice ride, Nicola
Black "DUKE" 751582
ex...Red "smooth" 753349
Black "DUKE" 751582
ex...Red "smooth" 753349