Please Help... No Brake Light
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 3
Please Help... No Brake Light
I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I just finished installing beach bars and a nacelle on my 2007 heritage. Everything works except the brake light does not come on. I tried the front and rear brake and it does not light up. Any ideas?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: Central Alberta, Canada
is your tail light on but just doesn't go brighter when you apply the brake? If so then it's likely the little switch inside the brake lever. It's pretty common for it to get messed up when people switch out their handlebars. I've done it myself in the past. If it's not on at all I'd say it's probably a bad connection or a pinched wire.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
You broke the brake light switch, you can replace it or do a search and a few people have fixed it by putting a screw in the end of the switch. Yes it's a common problem if you don't put a wedge between the lever and the housing.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: St. Cloud, MN
If you broke the switch on the install I would suspect the rear brake would still light it up. Check the bulb first, then get a test light and see how far back you're getting juice. Start in the bulb socket and work your way forward. Are you sure the brake light isn't stuck on from the front brake switch and that's why it doesn't get brighter? Good luck!
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Aruba
Front brake light switch is activated by the hand lever which is what you probably broke and is stuck on. Rear brake light switch is activated by brake line pressure. It's half way down the brake line between the master cylinder at your foot pedal and the rear brake. Right at the spot where the line changes from a metal line to a rubber hose.
You should be able to look at the filaments in the bulb and see whether the high or low filament is burning. That will tell you if you have brake light all the time or if the running light is on and you have no brake light.
You should be able to look at the filaments in the bulb and see whether the high or low filament is burning. That will tell you if you have brake light all the time or if the running light is on and you have no brake light.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
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From: St. Cloud, MN
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
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From: Los Angeles, CA
When my front switch died (not broken, just stopped working) the rear still worked fine. This happened to a friends bike when he changed levers. The new levers were not making contact with the switch properly. We put some double stick tape on the part of the lever where the switch was to make contact qand it was fine. Has been fine ever since. Did you recently change levers?
Drew
Drew
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 36
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eveyone thank you. there was a gap between the levers and the switch. i folded up a piece of card stock, wedged it inbetween the lever and the switch and so far its working fine. I really appreciate the help.