rear brake light switch
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rear brake light switch
hello I have a 1989 FLT that you have to press really hard on the rear brake pedal to turn on the brake light my ? is can you run an automotive type brake light switch or does it have to be M/C specific? any ideas? thanks for your help
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Trabuco Canyon, California
I have that same problem and a replacement fluid switch did not help. I thought it might be due to an air bubble near the switch but purging there and putting fluid in the switch before installing did not help either. If anyone has a solution I'd like to know too.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NW AR
It is a standard automotive pressure activated switch. It normally takes a good amount of pressure to turn it on. In other words, "They all do that, sir." Now how much is a good amount? That, you'd have to compare to others. A new switch might be better, and it never hurts going with Genuine H.D. parts for things like that. HD doesn't make the part, but they spec out what they want there.
Back in The Olden Days before these new-fangled hydraulic brakes were out, HD rear brake light switches were a mechanical switch linked to the brake pedal. I've seen them actuated with a bit of leather tied between the pedal and a spring to the switch, but I'm not sure that was the way they came. Maybe that bit of leather was a mad-y0-tite chopper mod. If you're really concerned about it, you could always rig up a mechanical switch to your pedal.
Back in The Olden Days before these new-fangled hydraulic brakes were out, HD rear brake light switches were a mechanical switch linked to the brake pedal. I've seen them actuated with a bit of leather tied between the pedal and a spring to the switch, but I'm not sure that was the way they came. Maybe that bit of leather was a mad-y0-tite chopper mod. If you're really concerned about it, you could always rig up a mechanical switch to your pedal.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Tejas
My shovel has always been that way and it is useful if you don't want to light up the rear brake, as in exceeding the speed limit, but not so great if you did want it to light up. I usually just put a little pressure on the front lever and it lights it up instead.
My 94 dresser is a little hard also, but is easier than the shovel.
Griz
My 94 dresser is a little hard also, but is easier than the shovel.
Griz
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the last one i bought i got at NAPA. i got the oldest guy there to break out the book, not look it up on the computer. they didn't have a switch with spades so i had to get one with male round plugs, i had to change the wire ends to female to accept the round plugs. that was about 5 years ago and i think i paid about $7 for it.
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thanks for your help autozone has a 2 spade switch the number is RB401 it costs about $8.39 does your rear brake light come on with very little pedal pressure or do you really have to push dowh hard?