Brake light staying on when riding
Thread Starter
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Banned
Joined: May 2008
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Brake light staying on when riding
My brake light is staying on when I'm riding.
I disconnected the rear brake switch and tested it with a test light- lead to negative tester into connector. What I'm finding is that both connectors light up the tester, and I'm 99% sure that one should not light.
What throws me is that with the rear switch disconnected the brake light stays lit- not just the running light. Shouldn't tail/brake light return to just the tail light lit if the rear brake switch is disconnected?
I replaced the front brake switch yesterday. I also unplugged the turn signals at the tail light to exclude them from the problem, but no change.
What am I missing?
I disconnected the rear brake switch and tested it with a test light- lead to negative tester into connector. What I'm finding is that both connectors light up the tester, and I'm 99% sure that one should not light.
What throws me is that with the rear switch disconnected the brake light stays lit- not just the running light. Shouldn't tail/brake light return to just the tail light lit if the rear brake switch is disconnected?
I replaced the front brake switch yesterday. I also unplugged the turn signals at the tail light to exclude them from the problem, but no change.
What am I missing?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
If your rear brake switch is unplugged and the brake light is still on, your front switch is the issue. You may not have it seated all the way or the lever may not be pushing the button back to turn it off. Leave the rear switch unplugged and use a small pick to modulate the front brake switch to see if it turns off when pressed.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 417
From: Cranbourne, VIC Australia
If the return spring is getting weak in the front master cylinder it may not be pushing the lever out all the way, leaving slight pressure on the switch illuminating the brake lights...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,487
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From: USA
If you disconnected the rear brake light switch and the brake light is still on, then the problem is most likely your front brake light switch. You are most likely getting your test light to light on either lead (when removed from the rear brake light switch) because one lead is already power to the switch and the other lead has power because the front brake light switch is energizing that lead as it is sending power to the brake light. Look at a wiring diagram and you can see that each switch has a lead that brings power to the switch. When the switch is in a closed position, power flows thru the switch to the other lead. That lead then delivers power to the brake light element of the bulb. If you notice the lead that brings power to the bulb actually splits and goes to each switch. I hope my explanation makes sense. If you already replaced the front brake light switch then you already know where the power lead to that switch is. Try disconnecting that wire and your brake light should go out. Then put the wires back on the rear switch and press the brake pedal to confirm that the rear switch works. I'm guessing here but HD uses a orange wire with a white stripe to supply power to the brake switches on some models. Sorry I don't have a wiring diagram for your particular model. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Banned
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The button switch for the front brake is moving freely in the switch housing. There is space between the back of the switch, it seems like a spacer is supposed to be there to fill in the void. It must have come out when I did my handlebars, but I need to know what I am looking for.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,487
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From: USA
Item # 10 is a metal wedge that goes between the switch housing and the back side of the brake switch.
http://www.outpostalaska.com/OEMpart...eSWITCHES%5cBX
The picture is from a 1998 Sporty Service Manual
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Mansfield, MA
The button switch for the front brake is moving freely in the switch housing. There is space between the back of the switch, it seems like a spacer is supposed to be there to fill in the void. It must have come out when I did my handlebars, but I need to know what I am looking for.
Good chance you smashed the switch when you reassembled everything. Common problem. Replace the front switch.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 228
Likes: 41
From: Kent, England
You could remove the stock HD switch and fit a Banjo Bolt Switch to the master cylinder - works a treat and you wont get this issue ever again.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...l#post15225229
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...l#post15225229