Brake light prob
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 70
From: Greensboro NC
Brake light prob
Light stays on does not get brighter with pull of brake lever or push of pedal. Checked fuse it is good. I assume I need a part and I cant remember the name of it. Any help would be appreciated.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,823
From: Oklahoma
2 switches operate the brake light, the front brake lever switch and the rear brake switch. It is most common to break the front lever switch when removing the brake lever or the switch box. There is a very easily broken plastic button on the end of the switch which contacts the brake lever. If that is broken off, it results in your problem as without that button, the switch doesn't get pushed back into the housing far enough to interrupt the circuit and turn off the brake light. Inside the switch box there is a little V shaped sheet metal spring which pushes on the other end of the switch and keeps it against the outer end of the switch box. If that spring broke or fell out, you can have your problem. Usually, the rear switch fails in the off mode, but it can get stuck the other way also. It is an old fashioned pressure switch which works on brake fluid pressure. It is mounted near the back end of the chrome transmission cover in a plumbing fitting.
Removing a wire from the rear brake switch should break that circuit and turn off your brake light IF that switch is the problem. If the front brake switch is the problem, pushing the brake lever hard against brake off stop might turn off your brake light for trouble shooting purposes. Have you recently changed handle grips or fiddled with the front brake lever or the switch box?
To the best of my knowledge, the rear switch cannot be repaired, it must be replaced. The "shade tree" fix for the front switch varies. The "official" fix is replacement and then you have the very tender plastic button to break off again. I have glued a replacement little plastic button on the lever end of the switch, others have put a small screw into the brake lever where the switch contacts the little screw head and is pushed in far enough to turn off the light. Good luck with your project.
Removing a wire from the rear brake switch should break that circuit and turn off your brake light IF that switch is the problem. If the front brake switch is the problem, pushing the brake lever hard against brake off stop might turn off your brake light for trouble shooting purposes. Have you recently changed handle grips or fiddled with the front brake lever or the switch box?
To the best of my knowledge, the rear switch cannot be repaired, it must be replaced. The "shade tree" fix for the front switch varies. The "official" fix is replacement and then you have the very tender plastic button to break off again. I have glued a replacement little plastic button on the lever end of the switch, others have put a small screw into the brake lever where the switch contacts the little screw head and is pushed in far enough to turn off the light. Good luck with your project.
Last edited by btsom; Aug 17, 2013 at 04:57 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 1
From: New York
Are you saying it's stuck on bright, or it's not getting brighter when the brake is applied?
Have you checked the bulb? Perhaps one of the filaments is burned out?
If it's stuck on, see btsom's post above.
Have you checked the bulb? Perhaps one of the filaments is burned out?
If it's stuck on, see btsom's post above.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 70
From: Greensboro NC
It appears to be stuck on bright yes. I changed the bulb just to make sure.
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