A hydraulic brake light switch! Really?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, Virginia
A hydraulic brake light switch! Really?
Working on a friend's '96 1200 Sportster, I found the rear brake light didn't work. Only having a little experience working on Harleys, I was shocked, surprised, and bewildered that it used a hydraulic switch for the rear brake.
It just seems so damn puzzling that a simple mechanical spring-loaded switch isn't used!
The more I researched, I found that dozens of models use it. For the love of God, WHY?
OK, I'm done. Thanks for reading my rant.
Ride often and ride safe,
Virginia Dan
It just seems so damn puzzling that a simple mechanical spring-loaded switch isn't used!
The more I researched, I found that dozens of models use it. For the love of God, WHY?
OK, I'm done. Thanks for reading my rant.
Ride often and ride safe,
Virginia Dan
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 959
Likes: 267
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
My guess is a mechanical switch would involve brackets, which will need an assembly line man to install and adjust, thus costing the MoCo money.
Also, you'll have environmental design parameters: road dirt, rain, corrosion, etc. This would require a hermetically sealed switch. Much more severe environment than what you find under the dash of a car. This robust switch would cost more money.
Simplest solution is a hydraulic switch. Plumb it in, no mechanism to adjust.
At least that's what I think.
Also, you'll have environmental design parameters: road dirt, rain, corrosion, etc. This would require a hermetically sealed switch. Much more severe environment than what you find under the dash of a car. This robust switch would cost more money.
Simplest solution is a hydraulic switch. Plumb it in, no mechanism to adjust.
At least that's what I think.
Last edited by fsae0607; Feb 9, 2017 at 04:36 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,291
Likes: 7,773
From: West Central FL
Working on a friend's '96 1200 Sportster, I found the rear brake light didn't work. Only having a little experience working on Harleys, I was shocked, surprised, and bewildered that it used a hydraulic switch for the rear brake.
It just seems so damn puzzling that a simple mechanical spring-loaded switch isn't used!
The more I researched, I found that dozens of models use it. For the love of God, WHY?
OK, I'm done. Thanks for reading my rant.
Ride often and ride safe,
Virginia Dan
It just seems so damn puzzling that a simple mechanical spring-loaded switch isn't used!
The more I researched, I found that dozens of models use it. For the love of God, WHY?
OK, I'm done. Thanks for reading my rant.
Ride often and ride safe,
Virginia Dan
Well, except maybe for the Britts.
Last edited by Hey Man; Feb 9, 2017 at 05:02 PM.
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, Virginia
OK, I get it.
My beef was that when it breaks (and it did) you have to take off the heat shield, loosen the rear header, bleed the rear brake system and then put it all back together again.
This was on a '96 Sportster 1200 Custom.
It's all good and I learned a lot from doing the job and asking questions on this forum.
Thanks all!
My beef was that when it breaks (and it did) you have to take off the heat shield, loosen the rear header, bleed the rear brake system and then put it all back together again.
This was on a '96 Sportster 1200 Custom.
It's all good and I learned a lot from doing the job and asking questions on this forum.
Thanks all!
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I had to replace mine a couple years ago and actually glad I did because I found the brake fluid was puke green. Replaced the switch along with a line flush/bleed and now the rear brake is solid.
If you want to gripe about a brake switch, replace the front one. It's like a fragile butterfly that will get ruined if you're not careful.
If you want to gripe about a brake switch, replace the front one. It's like a fragile butterfly that will get ruined if you're not careful.
