I changed out my handlebars on my 2011 forty eight and since then my brake lights have been on. i have been able to take it apart and get them to work but it never lasts long. when it is apart i can toggle the switch and make my brake lights work so does that mean my switch is good and im not putting it all back together right or is my switch bad and i need to replace it??? any information helps

 

sounds like you might have pinched your wires when re-mounting everything. I did that the 1st time I put new bars on my bike. Are your bars dimpled so the wires don't get crushed when you tighten everything up?

 

yeah the bars are dimpled and nothing is pinched. i measured my bars thinking maybe they were wider than stock and thats not the case either. the brake lever doesnt seem to reach far enough to push in the switch therefore the brake lights are stuck on. i have had it apart and back together multiple times and it never works for more than a couple days

 

Ive even had a local "bike" mechanic look at it and he got it working for awhile but still quit soon after

 

Are the cables stretched to tight then for the new bars? I moved my cables to gain some extra length. a few of your cables run along the bottom of the front tank mount bolts(left side) and ignition switch(right side). I cut a few zip ties and moved them above the tank mount bolt(left side) and above the ignition switch(right side) to get more length out of mine.

 

i put a pic up on my last reply. i dont think they are stretched too tight but its possible. Im getting ready to do a tank lift, coil and key relocator and tuck all the wires so i will be able to check that when i do. plus im gonna chop and paint my fenders so itll be in a few pieces for me to figure some of that out. what all mods you got on that sweet 48? so far ive added a nightster tank, screaming eagle heads and pushrods, vance and hines short shots, stage on intake, and xied(best $100 i spent)

 

I have $8,000 plus worth of mods! Here's a short list of the major stuff. 7" Fatboy headlight, Alloy Art LED rear blinkers, Licks 10" Z bars, Licks 10" rear shocks, Exotic Choppers pipes, Licks Sparto taillight, RSD brass grips, RSD air cleaner, Lot's of custom made brass items, Wire tuck, Avon Cobra white walls, Licks 3" round mirrors, and much more! More mods coming this winter!

 

what all cables/hoses did you have to change when you did the 10 inch bars?

 

i bet, you forgot to put the little piece of metal between the switch and the switch housing. it looks like a V very very tiny. does the switch move around in the housing? is it fully seated in the hole? is the housing pushed all the way to the master cylinder?

 

i think you may be right about the v piece. i dont recall even seeing one. so would that mean buy a new switch or does it come separate? yes everything else is where is is supposed to be