Silly question, but just installed get a grips on my 14 street glide and have read u can break the brake switch if u don't wedge a piece of cardboard between the lever and perch, applying the brake. Curious how it's possible to break this piece just splitting the housing open to remove/install the grips? Install went pretty smooth, had to dremel the crap out of the lip on the clutch side to get the housing to close around it. Brake light works fine but seems I have to pull the lever pretty firmly to actuate the brake light, pretty sure if I messed up the brake switch though the brake lights wouldn't come on period??

 

Most of the time if it's broken it will stay on pretty much all of the time or come on for no reason.

 

Don't think its normal to have to "pull firmly" to get the brake lights to work.
I barely pull mine and the brake lights work. I did use the shim though. I figured if it was in the directions many switches had been broken or damaged to get it in print.

 

Because, if you don't shim, that little piece of rubber/plastic covering the switch assy snaps and...voila = tear it all apart (again) to swap this part too. If you don't know it's there, and don't read/follow instructions, it's pretty easy to damage it during re-assy.

 

Brake light should come on when lightly pulling lever,if not something is on a bind.

 

I'm pretty sure my brake light came on like this before the grip change. As I pull the lever and feel the pads engage is when the light kicks on

 

OK I've been doin this a long time. The earlier models from about maybe 07 down, the brake light was operated by a small plastic button that protruded through the housing and was depressed by the lever. The early models had a pretty thin wimpy switch button that was pretty easy to snap off, I did it on my 06 Road King. That's why the shim was needed, usually the thick end of a zip tie worked good. The later models don't really have that issue. You still should use the shim but it a much beefier design that doesn't break near as easily. The newer bike also require you to loosen the housing more as you kinda hafta roll the lever into place. If you do snap off that button, the replacement piece is pricey and a real PITA to replace unless you have the fingers of a brain surgeon

 

When you pull the lever for the brake it doesn't depress the brake light switch. It releases the brake light switch. The switch is normally compressed. If you leave the lever in it's "home" position the paddle will make contact with the side of the switch and not slide in past it. If you force it you could potentially break the switch. It is specifically addressed in the service manual in bold print.

Edit: I just went into my 0 degree garage in my jammy pants to double check mine. It's only a small amount of movement in the handle before the switch starts to work. You don't want to have to pull that far before the light comes on. I use mine just to tell people to back off, without engaging the pads at all.

 

 

So if mine doesn't light up until the pads contact, is there anything obvious to look for that may be wrong?