Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

stuck brake light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 5, 2011 | 01:42 PM
  #1  
VirtualNorm's Avatar
VirtualNorm
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 686
Likes: 1
From: KC MO
Default stuck brake light

Last night I notice my brake light on my 08 883 XLL is stuck. Damn. Any idea what to do to trouble shoot this? It would be nice if it was not always on.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 01:48 PM
  #2  
Cpitch's Avatar
Cpitch
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 1
From: MCALLEN ,TX
Default

Check your sensor on your hand controls. If your housing isn't on right, the brake light switch isnt engaged leaving it on all the time. It happened to me and I just had to adjust the housing.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 01:48 PM
  #3  
Blackcherry Low's Avatar
Blackcherry Low
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 481
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
Default

The front brake light switch is easy to break if you removed the brake lever. Just a thought.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 01:49 PM
  #4  
WRAITH's Avatar
WRAITH
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,278
Likes: 2
From: Mission,BC.Canada
Default

Always start with the simplest first. Try replacing the light bulb. Sometimes the tail light filament shorts to the brake, causing it to stay on all the time.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 02:05 PM
  #5  
VirtualNorm's Avatar
VirtualNorm
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 686
Likes: 1
From: KC MO
Default

i will check the housing, AND the bulb. Thanks for ideas.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 02:29 PM
  #6  
IronBoy883's Avatar
IronBoy883
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Default

Same thing happened to me on my iron it was the front brake switch ... as soon as i replaced it problem went away ... real easy to test to. I would start with the front then check the rear switch ... most likely that is the problem
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 03:29 PM
  #7  
tas_todd's Avatar
tas_todd
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 912
From: South La.
Default

My wife's did the same thing. I replaced the bulb and shimmed the front brake lever to make better contact w/ the switch. All better now.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 04:19 PM
  #8  
HOTLAP's Avatar
HOTLAP
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,067
Likes: 394
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Default

I had it happen & it was a bee stuck in the housing not allowing the front brake lever to fully return & press the button in the housing.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 5, 2011 | 05:51 PM
  #9  
Grammaton's Avatar
Grammaton
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

If you were working on the right side controls, it could be your front brake switch. If you were not, it's probably the rear brake light switch. They are somewhat notorious for failure. Unplug one lead from the switch. If the brake lights go out, that switch was your problem.
 
Reply
Old May 5, 2011 | 07:06 PM
  #10  
Sharknose's Avatar
Sharknose
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
Default

First thing I'd do is type "brake light stays on" in the search box and choose from among the 200+ threads already created on this topic.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
scootervtx
Touring Models
3
Apr 8, 2010 07:17 PM
AZCHOKESTER
Sportster Models
7
Jan 10, 2008 10:34 PM
sporty05
Sportster Models
11
Sep 26, 2007 11:44 PM
ian
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
2
Feb 6, 2007 07:16 PM
SIDEWAYZ50
Ignition/Tuner/ECM/Fuel Injection
2
May 23, 2006 08:32 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:23 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE