thanks guys on all the info. it was the bulb, one of the fillments were bent, replaced the bulb. its all good. thanks jackyl

 

Glad to hear that it was a $2.00 fix. Always start with the simple stuff first, that usually takes care of it.

 

these simple problems remind me of the movie SLing Blade with billy bob thorton. Where they give him a broke lawn mower and the first thing he does is look in the gas tank to which he replies "ain't got no gas in it".

Glad to hear it was just a simple fix

 

Glad to hear it was a simple fix. Brake lights are one of things I intend to pre-check every ride. It just doesn't always happen.

 

i keep a spare with me in my bag ..never know.

 

Glad you got it figured out.

Similar thing happened to my 06 wide glide. The bike was in the shop for service and they call and tell me my brake light is not working but when the brake is applied power is lighting my led license plate light so I know the switches are working. They wanted $72 bucks for an hours of investigation to look at the problem. I tell them no thank you. When I get it back I take the thing apart and find that the connector plugs are filled with road grime. I tap all the connectors with a screwdriver and chunks of grime were falling out. If you ride in the rain much you may want to check that you're not getting build up of wet grim in the brake light housing.

 

#1 is check bub, two is connections, first the connection board. Then just pig tail connections. I had pig tail with bad connect for stop light. Stop light switch is located on right side next to front of swing arm on 07 fxdb. my switch seemed okay until I bled system and fluid was squirting out onto wire connects making smoke. That was problem. Replaced stop light switch and fixed no stop light problem. If I checked stop light switch first I would have found problem. Sometimes wires in pig tail can be displaced causing connect problem. You can pull the wire where bulb slips in and so it will make full contact. And last don't forget the dialectic grease on connections.

 

I've been having this problem. I tested the front brake light switch and it works fine. The relay would click. Now it's not but the relays are fine. I got a new bulb and wires and plugged it in and still not illuminating. Tested wires frinser the fender and I'm pretty sure they were fine. I am seriously stumped.

 

Nuthin quit like diggin up a 9yr old thread for a current problem.
Don't know what bike you have,, but the rear brake switch stopped working on my 09 FXD. It's actuated by the hydraulics and it simply failed.
Replaced the switch, bled the brake and all is good.