| Author | Message | ||
     Lakes |
Hope someone can help the front brake light switch does not work, rear one works fine. any advice appreciated. m2 year 2000 | ||
| Reepicheep |
1) Figure out if the switch is bad, or if the wiring is bad. 2) Replace the broken thing.  Seriously, you can disconnect the brake switch, put an ohm meter on it, and see if it changes from an open circuit (infinity ohms) to a short circuit (under 5 ohms) when you pull the lever. If not, the switch is bad, and replace the switch. If so, you have to look a little further and chase down the wiring or fuse problem. | ||
| Lakes |
Thanks for that! all the Harleys i have owned the front brake switch always seemed to stop working, the rear aways trouble free, anyone else notice that? & why? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My ironhead killed the front brake switch due to the lever peening over the threaded tube shaped housing of the switch. I only noticed this when an old timer asked to see my broken switch. His solution (which WORKED) was to shim out the switch so that the threaded switch housing was flush with the cast aluminum lever housing. I doubt that modern nissin units are the same but that sort of thing may be worth a peek. | ||
| Hootowl |
The switch isn't a sealed unit. Contacts are exposed to the elements. Shoot some wd40 in there and cycle it a few times. | ||
| Zac4mac |
That's actually one of the finest of HD's designs. They wanted their riders to be able to decide whether to light the stop light or not. Sometimes it's really nice to be able to scrub 20 or 30 mph without signaling that to the cop on the side of the road. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Zac said "Sometimes it's really nice to be able to scrub 20 or 30 mph without signaling that to the cop on the side of the road."  | ||
| Dannybuell |
The front switch is attached to the master control on the underside. disconnect, get some tech spray and hose it out as best you can. tape can be used to seal the body and, that hole where the dirt gets in. I did it a couple of times years ago. I gave up, if I want you to see may tail i use the rear brake | ||
| Reepicheep |
I remember following Henrik around NC and Deals Gap. I was thinking "this guy is crazy smooth, he never even touches the brake!". It took us about two days to figure out his front brake switch wasn't switching anymore.  But he was really smooth, with or without brake application.  | ||
| Sportyeric |
After going through a couple of brake light switches over the years on my S2 (which uses Harley hand-controls), a mechanic told me that the problem was the current flow through the switch. I installed a relay, so the brake light switch only has to carry switching current rather than light-bulb current. Been good for years. In trouble shooting a brake light problem a couple of years ago, I was mystified for a bit because the circuit tester probe would light up, showing "good" everywhere, but the brake light bulb wouldn't. Had to substitute a pigtail with an actual bulb to determine that the problem was, in fact, the brake light switch (rear), which was passing enough current to light the tester bulb but wouldn't allow enough current to light an 1157. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
My front switch is goofy too. It usually doesn't work, but on occasion it will. Someday I'll pull it and clean it, clean up the contact points with the cables and wrap them better. In the mean time I use the same method as everyone else, just use the back brake if I want people to know I'm slowing. I'll probably get it sorted someday because I know that switch is the only thing keeping my bike from passing inspection. Never had a cop give me a second look on a buell, but it's nice to have the piece of mind. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Interesting Eric. You could even put the whole relay at the rear tail light and keep the majority of the wiring intact. | ||
| Lakes |
Thank you all!!! some good advice, i'll try what Hoot & Danny do. Upthemaiden said it!!! i have to pass yearly inspection, it's time. like most i've thought you can slow up quick with front brake ( no brake light ) if you want to, & when brake light needed to warn a car truck or another bike you are doing emergency stop, you use front & rear make light work. thanks again all. |
