Switch Pack Failures
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 199
From: NE PA
Switch Pack Failures
Seems like HD has some work to do on the switch packs. I'm sure making them this way is cheaper than individual switches, but I wonder what they're spending in warranty repairs? Lots of failure stories here.
My left side trigger switch failed at under 500 miles. Dealer would have gladly replaced it, but they didn't have the part and wanted to "diagnose it" before ordering, which meant drop off, wait pickup. Didn't want the hassle, so I ordered the lighted set from New Castle HD. The lighted switches are great and should come with these bikes IMHO. Yesterday (1700 miles) discovered that the clutch lever switch has failed - won't start in gear or drop cruise with the clutch lever pulled.
So I guess I'll see how New Castle's return policy works.
My left side trigger switch failed at under 500 miles. Dealer would have gladly replaced it, but they didn't have the part and wanted to "diagnose it" before ordering, which meant drop off, wait pickup. Didn't want the hassle, so I ordered the lighted set from New Castle HD. The lighted switches are great and should come with these bikes IMHO. Yesterday (1700 miles) discovered that the clutch lever switch has failed - won't start in gear or drop cruise with the clutch lever pulled.
So I guess I'll see how New Castle's return policy works.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 684
Likes: 23
From: Weymouth, MA
I had the same issue. Took it apart (the switch cover), exposing the switch pack. Blasted it with some WD-40 and it's worked ever since. I think crud gets in there or the contacts get corroded. Used to have the same problem with some of my other bikes, had to take them apart, clean contacts with a pencil erase then hit them with dielectric grease. Unfortunately you can;t do that with these switch packs.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 577
Likes: 19
From: Michigan
I have the lighted ones on my Limited and the left one stopped working killing my cruise and the useless gear indicator. Was on dealer backorder and in the mean time it started working again after a love tap. They have a problem because the service manager said mine was the 3rd one that week. They called and said it was in so i guess i will make another trip to get it fixed.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Central NJ
Mine left switch cluster failed at 85 miles. I called the dealer (electrical system light was on and check engine light). I rode it in and they fixed it right away.
Dealer service dept said they've seen this before.
Dealer service dept said they've seen this before.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 199
From: NE PA
I have to say New Castle was great on this. A little back and forth and they ordered a new switch pack. They tell me it's back-ordered from the MoCo with no promise date. Maybe that's a good sign and they're redesigning a fix, or maybe it's a bad sign and there's thousands of these broken.
In the meantime I'll try babygorilla's fix.
In the meantime I'll try babygorilla's fix.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 267
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
One thing that you can absolutely rely on is that the MOCO will ALWAYS choose to go with the cheapest crap they can find and then spend huge amounts on warranty repairs and re-design.
They've always been that way and (apparently) always will be.
I remember reading on their propaganda site that the switches were new and improved and gave a more "positive feel" or some such BS and thinking, "Yeah, here comes a positive bunch of new failures".
The MOCO's nothing, if not completely predictable!
They've always been that way and (apparently) always will be.
I remember reading on their propaganda site that the switches were new and improved and gave a more "positive feel" or some such BS and thinking, "Yeah, here comes a positive bunch of new failures".
The MOCO's nothing, if not completely predictable!
Last edited by jpooch00; Jul 28, 2015 at 08:07 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 895
Likes: 27
From: Outside Dover, OH
My trigger switch lasted until first rainstorm. Intermittent for a couple days afterwards, dead in the water now.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 199
From: NE PA
My new switch pack arrived from New Castle HD. It took almost a month on back order. Installed and fixed the problem. I can't see any differences between the 2, but the sticker on the inside has a completely different part number, so maybe they made some improvements.
I have to give props to New Castle HD. They have been really easy to deal with. Let me know when the part came in and was shipped and included a return label for the failed part.
I have to give props to New Castle HD. They have been really easy to deal with. Let me know when the part came in and was shipped and included a return label for the failed part.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 376
Likes: 42
From: Surprise
I had to have the left side replaced. I had the lighted ones that I installed. The dealer was great. Instead of doing a part warranty and charging me for the labor to install it they did a stock switch warranty that includes the labor. Then they charged me the price difference in the lighted vs stock $21.00. Great deal. And they had it on hand. Life is good.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 707
Likes: 470
From: IA
At 6K miles on my 2015 FLHTK, I'm waiting on my second left switch pack. This time, it's the clutch switch, last time the trigger switch went too.
I was told end of August. I hope they're fixing them, but I'm not very optimistic.
That's the only real issue I've had with the bike in the last year, though.
I was told end of August. I hope they're fixing them, but I'm not very optimistic.
That's the only real issue I've had with the bike in the last year, though.