Modern Vespa

Hi everyone, Today while I was riding the front headlight detached from the cables and dropped to the floor (chromed rim and the whole headlight). I believe when installed I forgot to put the headlight clamp/retaining clip. Can someone show me how to install the clamp/retaining clip? Not sure where it goes. Thank you and sorry for such a basic question.

It's the clamp of evil! Ha ha ha!

Here's the best picture I've found for how it fits. Thanks to whoever posted it ages ago. It helped me a lot. Note, you have to start with the clamp slightly clear of the headset rim. The back of the clamp "sandwiches" the mount on the headset which is slightly inclined.

My headlamp also has 2 tabs on the top which locate into 2 grooves cut into the headset interior.

Good luck!

Thank you so much!!!!!! I just love this forum. Will try to install it tomorrow

It's so truly frustrating to deal with. I've done it enough times to finally understand it, but the first few times induced anxiety attacks. That, coupled with the small space in the headset, makes work on the cables, shift and throttle tubes a horrendous affair. Employ a small child to do the work for you (small hands and fingers needed). If you have gotten that far, then you will experience the joy of adjusting the cables at the shift mechanism on the bottom of the engine.🤪

It's not so much a clamp as a wedge with a screw... always have a couple spare because generally they are hopeless.
My headlight hasn't fallen out for a while now because as soon as it gets the slightest bit loose I replace it.
Shittest design ever!

"Shittest design ever!" , this! All too often the threads in the top clamp bit strip out

but you can salvage the original by soldering a nut in the stamped channel and using a new Allen screw if needed from below. Straighten it like above if it's mangled.

Ahh, the "puzzle clip". The key is good tabs on the top of the headlamp rim and understanding how the stupid puzzle clip works in conjunction with the two tabs. There is also a later version for the 1970-1981 US/Canadian CEV sealed beam versions "10539" (excluding P series, but including English 100 Sport models), always missing and not reproduced.

Horrible system, no luck yet, I don't even understand the logic behind it
Will keep trying

Maybe I installed it wrong?

Your bottom bracket piece is upsidedown, it connects from the bottom, not from inside


and you must get those 2 tabs on top into their slots before you try to try to fit the bottom rim into the puzzle clamp.

The squiggly part is installed upside down, take apart and flip it over. Be sure the squiggly part is under the hole/slot, the "U" shaped part is above the hole/slot. The squiggly part needs to be past the lower edge of the headlight opening, towards the front of the handlebar. Tip the two tabs on the top of the headlight into their slots and guide the puzzle clip back, capturing the lower edge of the headlamp trim.

Adjust and secure.

Not that hard.

Look at the gmontag picture.

Here's what it looks like from the bottom:

Oh!!!! Thank you all! Got it now.

That was the money shot. Good job SCG. That trim ring looks like the later USA style CEV sealed beam version.

Once you've got in correctly, which appears you're on the way to doing, holding the head of the nut and the clip, you can slide it forward or backward before tightening the nut to get the light beam aimed correctly.

I think I got it right, now need to tight things up, but I belive I understand the mechanism now!

First time the whole clamp was not forward enough so I had not captured the trim of the headlight. Now corrected. I cannot thank you enough.

Blimey this was useful, i just spent an hour trying to figure out how this went together before checking the forum.

It didnt help that the whole thing dropped on the floor when I took out the light and I didnt see how it went together to start with....

As ever, a cracking resource!

Cheers
Nick