Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Slim - Adding center brake light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 25, 2014 | 06:15 AM
  #1  
martin10's Avatar
martin10
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 520
From: VA
Default Slim - Adding center brake light

Would like to add a center brake light to my Slim and get rid of the cheesy reflector. Going to see if part number 73420-11, which is for a chopped fender Sportster, might be made to work. If anyone has done this please chime in. How do you access the wiring? It appears that it runs inside the fender strut. If anyone has added any kind of light how did you run the wiring? Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2014 | 07:41 AM
  #2  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

I added a Custom Dynamics LED run/brake light under the rear fender.
This thread may help you out - it details how I reused and relocated the reflector bracket to mount the LED, plus wiring diagrams.
The easiest way to do all this is to remove the fender...
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2014 | 07:58 AM
  #3  
martin10's Avatar
martin10
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 520
From: VA
Default

That is great information. I know which way to go now. Thanks.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2014 | 08:55 AM
  #4  
Jetfever's Avatar
Jetfever
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 536
Likes: 36
Default Center Brake light on a Slim

I added a Center brake light on my Slim.

Scroll down to post 2164 on page 217:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-pics-217.html

Look at the center male plug on the fender harness in this link. Do you see the red "plug" ?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...ight-help.html

I bought a Pin from Harley, and removed that red plug in the center of the middle male plug. Added a wire here for brake light. The license plate light is the running light. 2 wires in center plug, the other is ground. (Middle "plugged" hole was unused brake light, so I added a wire here).

So my center brake light works like a Stock Harley. The center tail light is a "running light" and all 3 lights are now on. When I apply brake all 3 get brighter, and of course the turn signal function has not changed.

These new, high quality, waterproof, (but large) plugs are easy to work with once you know how to disassemble them:-)

Different subject:
We should debate on a new thread, the best way to light up the back of a car or motorcycle. I think standard convention of adding (brighter) red to red is not a great idea. Tail lights should be yellow, or (blue or green) etc. IMHO, The only time a rider/driver should see red is when the brakes are applied to the vehicle. The Center high mount stop light on cars does not really fix the problem, but it helps.
I considered leaving my center tail light OFF, and only have it on when I apply brakes, but went with the standard Harley system.
(I was afraid the computer would think a light was burned out).
 

Last edited by Jetfever; Jul 25, 2014 at 09:00 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2014 | 02:13 PM
  #5  
Dutch101st's Avatar
Dutch101st
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 19
From: Folsom, CA
Default

Originally Posted by jam436
I added a Custom Dynamics LED run/brake light under the rear fender.
This thread may help you out - it details how I reused and relocated the reflector bracket to mount the LED, plus wiring diagrams.
The easiest way to do all this is to remove the fender...
My parts came in this morning and I will be doing this MOD tonight when I get off from work/OT. Good simple yet cost effective mod!
 
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2014 | 09:36 AM
  #6  
Dutch101st's Avatar
Dutch101st
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 19
From: Folsom, CA
Default

Added the tail running/brake light...works like a champ! Great documentation on this guys...made it easy as cake.
 
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2014 | 10:52 AM
  #7  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

Originally Posted by Dutch101st
Added the tail running/brake light...works like a champ! Great documentation on this guys...made it easy as cake.
Pictures or it didn't' happen...
 
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2014 | 12:14 PM
  #8  
Dutch101st's Avatar
Dutch101st
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 673
Likes: 19
From: Folsom, CA
Default

Will have to get some done up...but it happened. Oh yea, it happened. Here is some video tho...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ50...ature=youtu.be
 
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 01:43 AM
  #9  
bklynbob's Avatar
bklynbob
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,992
Likes: 653
From: bklyn,ny
Default www.soundoffsignal.com

You might want to try a Ghost multi-mount brake/ tail light. It is 4" wide, .9" hi,and 1.8" deep. It may be too big for under fender, but you can fab an L or U bracket to mount to your seat bolt or other area. This light is brighter than a popular brand tailight that everyone raves about as it has 6 Gen3 led's and a convex lens for a wide beam. Has a 5 pulse flasher for the brake function. It keeps cages way off my tail. FYI
 
Attached Thumbnails Slim - Adding center brake light-image.jpg  
Reply
Old Jul 30, 2014 | 08:37 AM
  #10  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

Originally Posted by bklynbob
It keeps cages way off my tail. FYI
I have say that since installing rear LEDs, people really stay back now, whereas before I got tailgated on a regular basis. Not anymore - these things really help, at least for those people who are actually paying attention.
Now if they would just do something about people talking on their phones & texting while driving...
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 PM.