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Brake light stays on.

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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:04 AM
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Default Brake light stays on.

I have a 2008 softail heritage with a brake light problem. With the ignition on or while riding, the brake light stays on. Any ideas?
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 07:10 AM
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It's probably the brake light switch at the brake lever, there is a little post in there you can hardly see that can get stuck causing the brake light to stay on.

I have got to get to work, maybe someone else can chime in on how to clean or replace, not as easy as you would hope.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 08:34 AM
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There also was/is a recall on the rear switch.. the heat from the cat is melting some of them..

Might call Ur dealer to see if Ur bike is included.


Nope, Not Urs... just found this..

The company said in documents filed last week with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that brake light switches can be exposed to too much heat from the exhaust system. The heat can cause the brake lights to fail, and the problem also can cause fluid leaks and the loss of rear brakes, the documents said.
The problem affects Touring, CVO Touring and Trike motorcycles from the 2009 through 2012 model years. They were built between June 6, 2008 and Sept. 16, 2011.
Harley says it will notify owners of the recall. Dealers will install a rear brake light switch kit free of charge.




Might try to clean the area around the switch and check Ur wiring or might just need a new one..



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Last edited by oct1949; Aug 13, 2012 at 08:38 AM.
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 08:39 AM
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What was stated earlier. Plus try to unplug the wire from the rear brake switch. If the switch is bad the light will go off. Then you can atleast ride it to get a new switch. The front brake switch will turn on the brake light. Hopefully it isn't the front switch.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 09:48 AM
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If you've changed the front brake lever you probably broke the switch. It's happened to a lot of folks.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 10:02 AM
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Get a set screw, a small one and you can take off the top of your right switch housing and simply drop the set screw in between plunger and the post on the lever. This assumes that your switch is still good. Ghetto but works like a charm.
If it is in fact the switch the part is $20 but it is a pita swapping them. If it's the rear that can be a pain if u got br 2/2 or some other exhaust that obstructs you, not to mention bleeding the brakes.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 11:11 AM
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If it is a bad front brake light switch don't pay 50-60 bucks at the dealer. You can get them for 16 bucks here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVID...f517f1&vxp=mtr
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 01:15 PM
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I had the same problem and "fixed it" or at least made it work by cutting one of the anti theft strips that come inside a DVD in half sticking the halves together and sticking them to the back side of the brake lever in front of the the switch. That added enough of a spacer to make the switch work properly. This idea did not originate with me, I picked it up off of another post over a year ago. It's worked fine so far.
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 02:05 PM
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I have had this on my Old Heritage and now my Crossbones the front brake light switch would stick on so I used WD40 spray oil inside the brake lever where the switch is a couple of quick squeezes on the lever and it seems to free it
 
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by guitar
I had the same problem and "fixed it" or at least made it work by cutting one of the anti theft strips that come inside a DVD in half sticking the halves together and sticking them to the back side of the brake lever in front of the the switch. That added enough of a spacer to make the switch work properly. This idea did not originate with me, I picked it up off of another post over a year ago. It's worked fine so far.
Great idea for a quick fix. Thanks for sharing.
 
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