Switch Covers - Hard to Install?
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Hagerstown, MD
Switch Covers - Hard to Install?
I just won a set of chrome switch covers off ebay. they are to replace the factory black ones, it looks like they come with a spring and a little plastic block, and 4 screws.
like below
Is it simple to install these? Just take the old ones off & install new ones? I once Lubed a throttle cable on a kawasaki and found it to be frustrating to get switch housings and all the internal parts lined up correctly when re-assembled, would this be a similar situation?
like below
Is it simple to install these? Just take the old ones off & install new ones? I once Lubed a throttle cable on a kawasaki and found it to be frustrating to get switch housings and all the internal parts lined up correctly when re-assembled, would this be a similar situation?
Last edited by 06Sporty75; Jan 29, 2012 at 10:44 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Hagerstown, MD
I'm looking at the service manual and the HD accesory catalog, can't quite make out if the throttle cables need re-routing or not, I'd like to know now, if I have to mess with the throttle cables I'd rather just cancel the ebay deal, doesn;t seem worth the effort.
Last edited by 06Sporty75; Jan 29, 2012 at 11:01 AM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: San Diego, CA
I think you have to unscrew the upper throttle cable tubes out of the lower switch housing. That spring and plastic shoe are for the throttle holder star assy, I believe.
I think the switches just have some screws holding them in, should swap over pretty easy.
John
I think the switches just have some screws holding them in, should swap over pretty easy.
John
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Hagerstown, MD
do you only have to Unscrew them, or do you have to dettach the cables from the handle and re-route them though the New Switch housing and then re-attach them. If so, is that hard to do on a harley? I know it was a pain on a Kawasaki for mutiple reasons.
Supporter
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From: Taylortucky, MI
Just the casings are a breeze... it's the switches themselves that are a PITA
Grand HDF Member
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From: Manassas, VA
Don't break your brake light switch. Put a string or rubber band around the brake lever, squeezing it towards the grip. This introduces a gap between the switch plunger and the lever. When you get it apart, you'll see. You don't want to break the little plastic tip off the plunger.
Take the top and bottom screws out of the switch housing. Lift 'em apart. You'll see the screws inside the switch housings that retain the switches to the housing. Small screwdrivers and patience helps during re-assembly. The actual switch caps will pop off when pried with a screwdriver, but if you're leaving the switches black, you shouldn't need to remove them.
You'll need to introduce slack in the throttle cables at the adjusters. Don't loose the little, round, brass "barrels" at the ends of the cables' ferruls. Somehow they're magic and will disappear if you're not watching. The aluminum sleeves the cables ride in simply pulls straight out from the switch housing. It's a cir-clip/friction sorta retaining system. It's required that the cables come loose from the throttle grip, but it's not too difficult. Don't crimp the cables with your needle nose pliers.
You'll get it.
Take the top and bottom screws out of the switch housing. Lift 'em apart. You'll see the screws inside the switch housings that retain the switches to the housing. Small screwdrivers and patience helps during re-assembly. The actual switch caps will pop off when pried with a screwdriver, but if you're leaving the switches black, you shouldn't need to remove them.
You'll need to introduce slack in the throttle cables at the adjusters. Don't loose the little, round, brass "barrels" at the ends of the cables' ferruls. Somehow they're magic and will disappear if you're not watching. The aluminum sleeves the cables ride in simply pulls straight out from the switch housing. It's a cir-clip/friction sorta retaining system. It's required that the cables come loose from the throttle grip, but it's not too difficult. Don't crimp the cables with your needle nose pliers.
You'll get it.
Last edited by HarleyScuba; Jan 29, 2012 at 04:23 PM. Reason: nunya
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Nashville, TN
The switches are a PITA. And as mentioned about the brake light switch. Just stick a piece of cardboard between the brake lever and the switch housing. This applys to anytime you are going to open the switch housing. The chrome switches look nice, but they are a pain to install. No need for any changes in the throttle cable. Just loosen the throttle cable up a bit to make things easier.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Hagerstown, MD
Thanks for the Instruction, I did not know Harley had those on the website. And thanks to everyone for the pointers, I think I'm going to go ahead and try to do this myself, it doesn't look too extremely hard. I'm not going to do the chrome switches just to avoid the frustration, even though they are only $22 in parts,
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