Brake light won't turn off
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Stage II
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2
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Brake light won't turn off
Took a look over the previous threads...couldn't find one that was relevant to the issue I'm having.
Here's the deal...the brake light will not go out on my 08 sportster 1200. I turn the ignition on, and both the taillight element and brake element illuminate. I checked the wiring that runs beneath the fender, and found the brown wire had been pretty terribly frayed. I fixed that, and inspected the taillight assembly, but can't find any other reason that this is happening. Any ideas?
Here's the deal...the brake light will not go out on my 08 sportster 1200. I turn the ignition on, and both the taillight element and brake element illuminate. I checked the wiring that runs beneath the fender, and found the brown wire had been pretty terribly frayed. I fixed that, and inspected the taillight assembly, but can't find any other reason that this is happening. Any ideas?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 743
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From: Cape Town
hi there
Just going from the setup on my Nightster it should be similar the brakes rear and front levers push/activate little pressure switches that give us a stop light.one of these could be faulty not springing out to its original position.H.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 225
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Have you removed the control and lever any time recently? The switch can get damaged it you don't follow the cardboard shim requirement in the manual. If not, I'd follow the advice above and check the switches.
Last edited by themac5150; Mar 13, 2010 at 12:05 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
I had the same issue once, turned out that a bee had got stuck between the front brake lever and the housing not allowing the lever to return quite enough to push the switch in.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 366
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From: Savannah, Ga.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 302
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From: London, England
I swapped my grips over once and there's a little rubber thing inside that falls out really easily, might be that.
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Thread Starter
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Stage II
Joined: Mar 2010
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Thanks for the quick replies all around.
So if I'm looking to check these switches to see if they're stuck...where exactly should I be looking?
And I did recently swap out my handlebars, but after fitting everything in place, the lights still functioned properly, so I'm hoping there's not damage to the lever control itself.
So if I'm looking to check these switches to see if they're stuck...where exactly should I be looking?
And I did recently swap out my handlebars, but after fitting everything in place, the lights still functioned properly, so I'm hoping there's not damage to the lever control itself.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
It's a momentary contact switch covered in a black rubber boot, if you look from the front of the control with the brake lever squeezed you will see it, you can try pressing it with a flat tip screwdriver to test it.
