Brake light switch meltdown
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 761
Likes: 9
From: lewisville, nc
yup, yup, after finding out what it was...im looking into the same concept of the heat shield type thing.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
I had to have my rear brake light switch replaced a few weeks ago at 17,000 miles. While I was there the service tech that always works on my UC to me they had a '09 touring Harley in that the rear brake light switch actually caught on fire while it was being ridden. It melted a few wires and warmed the riders leg up a bit.
I wrapped my new rear brake light switch with High Temperature Exhaust system tape. VersaChem part no. 82009. This may not be the best choice for shielding the brake light switch from the exhaust pipe heat but it will be better than nothing until I find something better.
I wrapped my new rear brake light switch with High Temperature Exhaust system tape. VersaChem part no. 82009. This may not be the best choice for shielding the brake light switch from the exhaust pipe heat but it will be better than nothing until I find something better.
Last edited by shortride; Aug 24, 2011 at 01:38 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: RI
Switch
Mine failed at 12k...how it failed was I was riding on the highway and Cruise control was on at 70 miles an hour..needed to slow down and I hit the rear brake, and the cruise control would not shut off (!) I hit the front brake and it promptly shut off. When I told the Service Manager this he did not think it was a big deal- idiot. All he said was be glad this is still under warranty or it would be $160 bucks. I told him it was a safety issue, as not only were my brake lights not working but if I had panicked it could have killed me.
He still did not care.
I spoke with the mechanic after he fixed it, nice guy. (He only took about 20 minutes to do it). He told me he does about 3 of these a week. He said the switch is really cheaply made. I asked him how to change it if it happens again, I would probably do it. He told me he gets the switch into position, threads the old one out and immediately threads the new one in. Only loose a drop of brake fluid. He said doing it that way you do not have to bleed the brakes, (I don't have ABS). The brakes and switch worked fine after that so I believed him. I would say the switch, like everything else is sourced from China.
I had just washed my bike so I was wondering if the water had gotten into it....but the Cat heat has me wondering now if that was it instead.
He still did not care.
I spoke with the mechanic after he fixed it, nice guy. (He only took about 20 minutes to do it). He told me he does about 3 of these a week. He said the switch is really cheaply made. I asked him how to change it if it happens again, I would probably do it. He told me he gets the switch into position, threads the old one out and immediately threads the new one in. Only loose a drop of brake fluid. He said doing it that way you do not have to bleed the brakes, (I don't have ABS). The brakes and switch worked fine after that so I believed him. I would say the switch, like everything else is sourced from China.
I had just washed my bike so I was wondering if the water had gotten into it....but the Cat heat has me wondering now if that was it instead.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 1
From: The Deep South
Mine failed around 17,000 miles. I also was on a trip and the AutoZone guy(HD rider)fixed me up with a Nissan switch. He said it was the same switch. This switch has been working for the last couple of years, knock on wood. Since that happened I have found out that other riders are also using automotive switches with great success.
$12 and ten minutes I was back on the road.
$12 and ten minutes I was back on the road.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: RI
Switch
Mine failed around 17,000 miles. I also was on a trip and the AutoZone guy(HD rider)fixed me up with a Nissan switch. He said it was the same switch. This switch has been working for the last couple of years, knock on wood. Since that happened I have found out that other riders are also using automotive switches with great success.
$12 and ten minutes I was back on the road.
$12 and ten minutes I was back on the road.
Do you happen to remember the part number?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 10
From: Oklahoma
Mine went out recently and had to be replaced. To add insult to injury, you have to use a metric wrench to swap the thing out.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,967
Likes: 18
From: Florida
Mine went at 47k in a HD parking lot and just a week to go on the 2 yr warr. The dam thing just melted....I always thought it was from the current draw from some extra lights on the rear end...guess not!