Road King Brake Light Problem
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 52
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From: TX
Road King Brake Light Problem
Ok so I have a little problem and my brake light won't work when I hit the front or rear brake. I checked the bulb and its good so idk what could have happened. only thing that comes to mind is I switched out my black switch caps for chrome ones. Any feedback would help. (05 road king)
Thanks
Thanks
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
your model has the wiring for the taillight running on teh under side of the fender.
a lowered bike bottoming out, or road debris picked up by teh tire can eat this wire.
usually resulting in a blowed fuse.
so check fuses first
if then the light is working, shake and bounce the bike and ensure that it won;t happen again.
have another look at your bulb- non "vibration resistant" bulbs can have problems surviving teh shaking...the filaments can drop onto each other.
if BOTH filaments are lit, that could be the problem or the brake light switch is busted.
mike
a lowered bike bottoming out, or road debris picked up by teh tire can eat this wire.
usually resulting in a blowed fuse.
so check fuses first
if then the light is working, shake and bounce the bike and ensure that it won;t happen again.
have another look at your bulb- non "vibration resistant" bulbs can have problems surviving teh shaking...the filaments can drop onto each other.
if BOTH filaments are lit, that could be the problem or the brake light switch is busted.
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Feb 3, 2015 at 07:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
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From:
Ok so I have a little problem and my brake light won't work when I hit the front or rear brake. I checked the bulb and its good so idk what could have happened. only thing that comes to mind is I switched out my black switch caps for chrome ones. Any feedback would help. (05 road king)
Thanks
Thanks
Any possibility that the hand brake lever was removed and the switch tip in the lever is in misalignment or damaged.
The tail light would then be in full bright / brake mode as opposed to running mode all the time.
This would look like the problem was with the light instead of the actual problem which would be the switch activation.
Rather easy to notice since BOTH filaments would be ON at all times.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 413
Likes: 7
From: Oklahoma
Well If you have a meter check to see as previously poiinted out that that you brake lights may be already on, pull a bulb and check both to see. If you are then you prob got the front brake sw missaligned. If you dont have voltage at both filiments work your way back to the handelbars. You might check to see if you have voltage on the hot side of the fuse if the fuse is good.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,549
Likes: 8
From: North Texas
If it's none of the above, replace the brake light switch. Mine did the same thing where the brake light was always on and my cruise would not engage(because it thought the brake was on).
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Centennial, CO
Brake lever/switch interface is the issue here.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 691
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
I did the same thing just a few weeks ago, except my brake was fine, the running lights wouldn't work.. Checked everything I could think of and then checked the bulb again, ONE of the filaments was damaged and I missed it the first time. I even tore apart my breakers and relays to locate the issue before I checked the bulb again... Sigh..