Replacing Brake Lever

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Dec 8, 2014 | 05:46 PM

mgardner

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From: Austin, Tx

Replacing Brake Lever

Hey Guys - Just wondering if someone has already gone down this road, and I'm sure you have. I'm about to install new edge cut clutch and brake hand levers on my 2013 FLHTK. The clutch lever is nothing, but when I looked at instructions for the brake lever it referred me to the service manual, and the service manual discusses this as part of a larger effort that involves bleeding the system.

So my question is, if all I am doing is replacing the brake lever, do I have to open up the master cylinder and bleed the system? With ABS this is a pain, and it seems unnecessary if all I am replacing is the lever.

Thanks for any input.

Mark

Dec 8, 2014 | 05:54 PM

Jackie Paper

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From: Honah Lee

Looks typical of most. Remove the lower small circle clip, pull pin. If yours has the typical brake light switch in the clamshell, you need to slide a strip of card board in behind it so when you reinsert new lever, you do not nip the little rubber bellow on the micro switch. Not sure if ABS has this switch however. Appears to be show and I assume it's typical of both.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....LEVER-ASSEMBLY

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Dec 8, 2014 at 05:59 PM.

Dec 8, 2014 | 05:58 PM

mkguitar

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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins

yes all models the past 35 years need the brake light switch shimmed to prevent the switch breaking.

Mike

Dec 8, 2014 | 06:09 PM

mgardner

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From: Austin, Tx

Well that's what I thought, but the service manual said to drain the brake lines and then bleed the system, but that didn't sound like it should be necessary unless there was something under pressure that was going to come springing out on me. But looking at the parts blowup it sure didn't look like that was an issue...

Thanks for all input!

Dec 8, 2014 | 06:19 PM

gdoc89

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From: Everett, WA

Absolutely NO reason to drain the fluid!

Dec 9, 2014 | 11:41 AM

RaceFace

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From: Ladera Ranch, CA

No need to even open up the master, BUT as Mike said, SHIM THAT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. It's a PITA to change that switch.....just ask me how I know! :-o

Dec 9, 2014 | 12:18 PM

mgardner

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From: Austin, Tx

Thanks for the input guys. Don't know why the instructions had me going through complete drain master cyl and front brakes just to change the lever. I did it in about 15 minutes last night - shim the lever to save the switch, took the MC assembly off (two torx bolts), took out the pin and replaced the lever, shim again for reassembly, then reinstall MC assembly. Easy stuff.

Appreciate all the responses. Saved me a major PITA draining and bleeding the front brakes..