It seemed like such a simple mod. The bike came with chrome switch housings and it sure makes the switches look black. The chrome switch caps are only sixteen bucks, and looking at the instruction sheet, I figured it ought to be pretty simple -- "even a cave man could do." The instruction sheet that came with the switches refers you to the Service Manual and I looked the removal and installation stuff over. Doesn't look to tough.

In the belief that the clutch side would be easier, I tackled that one first. Darn, the switch mounting phillips screws are hard to get to... don't really want to cut the tie wrap off. One side of the switch has the splined shaft, the other is just a smooth idler shaft. Everything's plastic -- don't want to bung the splines up. Hmm, just how hard do I dare pry these caps up to get them off. Boink! Opps, there goes a spring. Now where is it? I should'a swept the floor before I started this project. Sure is a lot of stuff down here. Those must be what they call dust bunnies, and I'm sure that spring is hidding behind one.

Caps off, now to get the new ones on. Lessee, this spring goes this way, no that won't fit. Must be the other way. Damn, popping these things on ain't near as easy as it looked in the instructions! To keep the story short, the left side came all together and hot dog it looks good. Lottsa stuff in the other one. Better check the manual.

"Put the 5/32 cardboard between the brake lever and the housing, or dire consequences to the brake switch will result." Thank you manual, I sure would never have thought of that. "Remove brake reservoir and lever." That was easy. "Open up the switch housing, disconnect throttle cables, and watch out for little pieces that fall out." Manual didn't mention that you gotta loosen up the cables before you can get those darn knurls out, but I did. Boink! What was that? Iddy-biddy brass knurl disappear onto the floor. Oh gawd, here we go again. Gotta sweep this damn floor.

Another phillips screw buried under the tied-down cable. Rats. Grunt, dig, growl. Gottcha! Boink!! Now, what the hell?! As it flew through the air, I saw that it appeared to be a copper-looking clip. After 10 minutes on my knees, I found it and the good old manual described it as a spring do-dad that fits behind the stop light switch -- somewhere. This is some real engineering marvels in here.

Same story as last time with the prying off and on. Had to give up and cut the tiewrap and thread a new one on. Appreciated junk box which had one that fit in the tiny space. Put the handle back on, refit the nasty little brass knurls into their assigned locations, and put the two halfs of the housing together over the bar..... Oh, oh. I think I've found the five pound bag and trying to stuff ten pounds of sh** into it. Boink! Oh no, there goes that damn clip again! An hour later, it appear to be all together, hoping I didn't break or pinch
one of those wires in there. Check out time. Everything works. Well, no, everything but the damn brake light. Dutifully put cardboard trick into brake lever and remove it. Switch looks crooked. Back off with the housing enough to get to that little bast***. Pry, push, wiggle. Put brake back on and test. After two more frustrating tries, it seems to be working now... so far.

Yes, they do certainly complete the handle-bar bling -- looks good. Would I do it again? Hah! What do you think?!! I've concluded that should I ever replace my favorite toy, I'll stick with "black is beautiful."

 

So did you ever sweep the floor

 

Been too busy riding, John. Gotta keep priorities straight. But it's on the list of "things To Do."

 

man that was funny. It sounds like you video taped me when I changed my switch covers out. I must have dropped those stupid brass knurls three times each, the best one landed in the switch housing and lodged itself under the wires. The whole time I was doing it I was thinking, there is no way you can put this much pressure on these plastic covers without breaking them. I'm glad I started with the throtle side first, I was just about out of patience by the time I finished.