After putting my new apes on it looks like I may have broken the front brake switch. From what I have read I am not the first to have this issue but I really can't find any info as far as how to or how hard it is to replace. For those who have done it can you let me know how difficult it is to replace? Thanks.

 

Not hard, just a PITA.

 

It's not a big job. The new switch is soldered into the wiring harness.

 

what he said

 

I just replaced mine yesterday, cut the wires an inch back from the new switch and soldered it in. Pita. I will be a lot more careful when I'm messing around with it next time that's Forsure.

 

Are you sure it is broken?
Sometimes you luck-out and the little tit on the switch is not torn but instead jammed.
Removing nothing and taking nothing apart but using a small screwdriver and flashlight gets it going.

 

Yeap, broke mine putting my beach bars on 2 weeks ago...not hard, just a PITA to change. I will DEFINITELY be more careful next time. My dealer said the HD switch was like $60.00!!! They had a Drag Specialties for $16.00 that I went with instead. Works just fine.

 

Gotta use the cardboard spacer during removal/ install of the lever. Don't ask how I know.

 

Is there any trick to replacing it other than the obvious take the broken one out and put the new one in?

 

It is very possible you did not break it but maybe just dislodged the little v-wedge that holds it forward. The switch is on when it comes out. In my opinion on my bike it is a pain since I need to break bars and drop them down due to cable length. Then you need to protect tank with blankets. Break open the clam shell and it is like 5 lbs of stuff in a 4 lb bag. Remove the throttle cables. You need to cut out factor hard wired switch since it is not plugged in, solder and shrink wrap new switch and arrange all the wires and get that stupid v-spring back in and snapped in correctly. If you have the patients of Job go for it.