Breakout & Shotgun Switches

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Sep 3, 2014 | 06:38 AM

#21

24v

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2012

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From: San Diego

I would check all of the connections on the wiring. It is real easy to pull a pin out just a little by accident when you are messing with all of the wires. That will create an intermittent contact issue like that. The switches are stout. I have put over 20k miles and 2.5 years on my set. They have been on 2 different bikes too.

Sep 3, 2014 | 06:50 AM

#22

Village Idiot™

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 3,158

Likes: 68

From: Martinsburg, WV

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24v

I'd rather not attempt it. Last time I tried that the switched broke and JD was nice enough to send me another set. It went from working perfectly with just a light touch of the switch to having to apply additional pressure in a certain direction after several weeks like they just wore down. It wasn't something that happened instantaneously, but over the course of that time and it happened to both switches.

Sep 3, 2014 | 07:20 AM

#23

24v

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Joined: Apr 2012

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From: San Diego

Yeah, might be better if you just leave it alone. I have never heard of anyone having as much trouble in a short period of time. I think your bike may hate you.

Sep 3, 2014 | 07:28 AM

#24

Village Idiot™

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 3,158

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From: Martinsburg, WV

Quote:

Originally Posted by 24v

Yeah, might be better if you just leave it alone. I have never heard of anyone having as much trouble in a short period of time. I think your bike may hate you.

It just wants me to learn how to be a part time mechanic. At least the reflectors are gone...

You know what? That's about the time the troubles started...

Sep 3, 2014 | 07:48 AM

#25

ducatirdr

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Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 72

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From: Central Massachusetts

Same issue with the switches. BTW I mounted my switches like the Rocker photo. No issues with heat but I did find out that I kept breaking the switches due to pressing them too hard. The first setup lasted only a few weeks before I got to the point where I was pushing the switch in and up as hard as I could to get contact. It got to the point where 80-90% of the time I got nothing. Trying to listen to the compressor on a LOUD bike is a pain in the *** as well. I think that's why I was pressing the switch like a **** with winter gloves trying to listen and make sure it was on.

I got the replacement harness and switches and it was unreliable almost immediately in testing it before routing and mounting. The second call to JD and his wife answered. I talked at length about my switch issues and she told me that sometimes the switches can fail due to too much pressure which bends the contact and forces you to press real hard to make it work afterward. Also she mentioned that the switches being small can equal fragile. They do test each harness before shipping but the nature of micro switches is that they can fail due to too much pressure and fatigue prematurely or for no reason other than it was weak from the start. Either way they happily shipped me a couple more harnesses to make sure I didn't have any more issues.

I got my third harness and made it a point to use a lite touch on them. It's been a few months now and not one dead spot.

I would take your new harness and just plug it into the bottom unit under the seat and test it out before routing it under the tank. If it works without a dead spot then move forward to permanently mounting it. Then take it easy on the switches so you don't fatigue them. It's been working for me all summer without issue.