Brake Light Switch Failure Video
Brake Light Switch Failure Video
Today I was out for a ride and my cruise control would work sometimes and then not work. Cruised over to my local dealer and made an appointment to have it looked at no big deal.
I get home and I see my new BrightAssLight tail light is there and decided to take some pictures and video of before and after. Well I never got to the after becuase smoke started to come from the switch and I shut it down. Switch almost melted and one prong came completely out when trying to disconnect, when that happens brake fluid can escape.
Stupid design brake switch failure can lead to hydraulic failure just dumb. I have to say I was shocked that a failure of a switch could lead to brake fluid loss; I know why did you pull it, that or fire you decide. If I was on the side of the road when this happened I would have started to loose hydraulic fluid.
I did not need to disconnect to stop the short ignition did that but when the ignition was turned on it would start to smoke again, which is why I wanted to disconnect it from the switch. Plastic is somewhat melted, thats not a good sign.
Dealer came and got the bike and he thought and I agree the cruise control was the first sign that the switch was failing causing the cruise control to engage and then disengage.
Second time my bike has broken down in 4k miles, bike has 14k miles. I have more than a few friends who are laughing at me, just stating the truth.
Here is the video I tried to take of the before lighting and instead I got the switch going up in smoke.
BTW it's still my favorite bike that I have ever owned, its got a lot of character laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbFeEPvpEME
I get home and I see my new BrightAssLight tail light is there and decided to take some pictures and video of before and after. Well I never got to the after becuase smoke started to come from the switch and I shut it down. Switch almost melted and one prong came completely out when trying to disconnect, when that happens brake fluid can escape.
Stupid design brake switch failure can lead to hydraulic failure just dumb. I have to say I was shocked that a failure of a switch could lead to brake fluid loss; I know why did you pull it, that or fire you decide. If I was on the side of the road when this happened I would have started to loose hydraulic fluid.
I did not need to disconnect to stop the short ignition did that but when the ignition was turned on it would start to smoke again, which is why I wanted to disconnect it from the switch. Plastic is somewhat melted, thats not a good sign.
Dealer came and got the bike and he thought and I agree the cruise control was the first sign that the switch was failing causing the cruise control to engage and then disengage.
Second time my bike has broken down in 4k miles, bike has 14k miles. I have more than a few friends who are laughing at me, just stating the truth.
Here is the video I tried to take of the before lighting and instead I got the switch going up in smoke.
BTW it's still my favorite bike that I have ever owned, its got a lot of character laughing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbFeEPvpEME
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 739
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis
Glad you caught it in time. That could have been a REAL mess if it happened while you were riding. I don't know, if at speed, you could have smelled it before some serious damage occured. It sucks that it happened, but at least it happened under controlled conditions. Time to buy a small fire extinguisher, pronto!!
I learned another thing even though not proven right yet, but if my cruise control works with no problems again then I guess it was the brake light switch causing the problem and now I know to check the switch if it happens again.
I think it would have burned and melted the wire clean off if I was riding.
I think it would have burned and melted the wire clean off if I was riding.
My brakelight switch died on the road and leaked brake fluild. Rear brakes went completely away after 75 miles or so. The rest of the ride was done carefully with only front brakes.
You can get a $13 replacement from End of The Line Chop shop on ebay. Works very well. I would also suggest getting a vacuum brake bleeder. I got mine at Habor Freight for $20.
And I agree, **** poor design for a switch to fail and cause brake failure.
...gene
You can get a $13 replacement from End of The Line Chop shop on ebay. Works very well. I would also suggest getting a vacuum brake bleeder. I got mine at Habor Freight for $20.
And I agree, **** poor design for a switch to fail and cause brake failure.
...gene
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
i went riding a year ago with a couple of friends, one of them with an 03 roadking, his brakelight was flashing on much more than normal. he was complaining that his cruise didn't stay engaged. turns out his front brakelight switch in the right hand lever pivot was at fault. replaced it, no more random brake light operation, and his cruise control began working again, as it reads the brake light to disengage the cruise.
My dealer has been real good to me he came with a trailer and got it with in two hours and was fixed the following day. Also got the Bullentin M-1251 2009 ABS Calibration Upgrade done while there.
The shop was trying to figure out how I had video rolling when it happened and told them how I was trying to get before and after video. They still looked at me cross-eyed.
The shop was trying to figure out how I had video rolling when it happened and told them how I was trying to get before and after video. They still looked at me cross-eyed.
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