Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Replacing Front Brake Light Switch

  #1  
Old 05-07-2009, 01:30 PM
ckgdrums's Avatar
ckgdrums
ckgdrums is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Angry Replacing Front Brake Light Switch

I'll tell ya', Boys and Girls, I didn't know how the right side handlebar controls came apart and went back together.....but, I do NOW!!!
You gotta put the switch in with the wires pointing down. Don't try to rotate the switch after it's in place.

3 times apart, and together for a brake light switch that I, admittedly, broke while changing the levers. Also, $60 for that switch!!! WTF!

Oh well, the manual was minimal help at best. Trial and Error proved to be the solution, finally.

Live and Learn,
 

Last edited by ckgdrums; 05-07-2009 at 01:56 PM.
  #2  
Old 05-07-2009, 03:01 PM
dawg's Avatar
dawg
dawg is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Vermont
Posts: 26,438
Received 2,944 Likes on 1,704 Posts
Default

If Topeka Harley-Davidson or Riverfront Harley-Davidson are close to you then you could've bought 71590-96A for $24 instead of the superseded 71621-08 for $60! Anywho, glad ya got it fixed. It is a bugger rotating the switch in there.
 
  #3  
Old 05-07-2009, 03:09 PM
Puttnutt24's Avatar
Puttnutt24
Puttnutt24 is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 1,762
Received 209 Likes on 116 Posts
Default

Also, whenever you split the switch housings, or remove the front brake master cylinder, always install a washer or something between the brake lever and cylinder housing, to hold the lever off the switch or you'll break the switch everytime. It's real easy to do.......Putt
 
  #4  
Old 05-07-2009, 03:10 PM
dawg's Avatar
dawg
dawg is offline
Seasoned HDF Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Vermont
Posts: 26,438
Received 2,944 Likes on 1,704 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Puttnutt24
Also, whenever you split the switch housings, or remove the front brake master cylinder, always install a washer or something between the brake lever and cylinder housing, to hold the lever off the switch or you'll break the switch everytime. It's real easy to do.......Putt
You can use the fat end of a zip tie also, works well.
 
  #5  
Old 05-07-2009, 03:55 PM
robbie52's Avatar
robbie52
robbie52 is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Augusta, GA
Posts: 1,939
Received 138 Likes on 100 Posts
Default

That is a $60.00 reason for reading and following instructions. Dang I hate to do that. But I also hate paying $60.00 for switch and the PAI to install it. They should add switch to all new brake levers.
 
  #6  
Old 05-08-2009, 08:06 AM
ckgdrums's Avatar
ckgdrums
ckgdrums is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by dawg
If Topeka Harley-Davidson or Riverfront Harley-Davidson are close to you then you could've bought 71590-96A for $24 instead of the superseded 71621-08 for $60! Anywho, glad ya got it fixed. It is a bugger rotating the switch in there.
Topeka H-D is where I bought my bike, but I was unaware of the substitue switch part numbers.... that would have been nice to know...LOL. Oh well. It's fixed...finally.
Oh, and Alefs' H-D, right here in river city only had the $60 switch in stock...go figure.

Oh, thanks for the heads up Dawg. I'll remember that part number just in case it happens again...[fingers crossed].
 

Last edited by ckgdrums; 05-08-2009 at 08:08 AM. Reason: add info
  #7  
Old 05-08-2009, 10:19 AM
nocages4me's Avatar
nocages4me
nocages4me is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

They are a PITA to install, I had to fix mine on a trip in a parking lot in July in Charlotte. Hotter than hell in my leathers trying to fix it with minimal tools.
 
  #8  
Old 05-08-2009, 12:11 PM
ckgdrums's Avatar
ckgdrums
ckgdrums is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by nocages4me
They are a PITA to install, I had to fix mine on a trip in a parking lot in July in Charlotte. Hotter than hell in my leathers trying to fix it with minimal tools.
You're right, that would have been a major PITA!!! I always carry my tools with me, but in a parking lot...no thanks.
 
  #9  
Old 05-08-2009, 03:04 PM
albertasaurus's Avatar
albertasaurus
albertasaurus is offline
Road Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 791
Received 36 Likes on 21 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ckgdrums
I'll tell ya', Boys and Girls, I didn't know how the right side handlebar controls came apart and went back together.....but, I do NOW!!!
You gotta put the switch in with the wires pointing down. Don't try to rotate the switch after it's in place.

3 times apart, and together for a brake light switch that I, admittedly, broke while changing the levers. Also, $60 for that switch!!! WTF!

Oh well, the manual was minimal help at best. Trial and Error proved to be the solution, finally.

Live and Learn,
Seeing how the manual is of little to no use, could you do us a huge favor? Do the install again, except this time take photos and add descriptions?

Just kidding of course! No matter how satisfying it is to work on our bikes, there are some jobs that frustrate the be-jeebers out of us. The last one for me was installing the headlight visor trim ring.
 
  #10  
Old 05-11-2009, 09:51 AM
ckgdrums's Avatar
ckgdrums
ckgdrums is offline
Outstanding HDF Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

You know, I seriously thought about taking pictures and doing a "play by play" of the switch install. I'm glad I chose not too...may have been some pictures of me standing there cussing at my switch housing taken by my thoughtful wife...
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
LowRider68
General Harley Davidson Chat
16
09-23-2023 06:13 AM
Harley Convert
Touring Models
8
04-23-2015 07:49 AM
switzead
Dyna Glide Models
4
01-25-2012 08:22 AM
JustDave71
Wheels/Tires
23
04-13-2010 12:15 AM
V2Evo96
EVO
3
08-17-2009 02:08 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Replacing Front Brake Light Switch



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:28 PM.