Hand brake not operating brake lights

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 4:23 am

I hope someone can help as I have seen it on the forum before but can't find it.

When I operate the front brake the tail lights do not light up, however when using the foot brake everything works as it should.

I know that there is/are up underneath the front brake lever some little rods that work the switch when the lever is pulled in.

Can someone tell me how I should go about cleaning it as I think there may be some gunk in there somewhere.

Thanks

Kiwi2

wingpilot08 · Post by **wingpilot08** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:53 am

Assuming it's a 1500 (as per your picture)..on the brake lever, there is a micro-switch that is just forward of the lever thatwhen pressed/released by the brake lever activates the lights (also I believe, controls the cruise control). You could try cleaning with a electrical solvent...you should hear a click when pulling releasint the brake lever

thrasherg · Post by **thrasherg** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:10 am

Before cleaning it, I would confirm that it is not working first, you should be able to pull the two wires of the back of the micro switch, then if you connect them together the brake light should come on (with the ignition turned on), if it does then the switch is at fault (Try cleaning it or replacing it). If connecting the two wires together does NOT make the brake lights come on, then you have a wiring fault that you need to fix (No amount of cleaning the micro switch will help!!).

Gary

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:45 am

Hi guys, I found that the micro switch is at fault so I have to get a new one.

Any ideas where I can pick one up in the states.

1) They will be a lot cheaper.
2) I won't have to wait months.
3) The dealers here in NZ charge like a wounded bull.

Dusty Boots · Post by **Dusty Boots** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:13 am

You can get that micro-switch - here

Dusty

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:32 pm

Thanks Dustyboots

That's the little varmit that is causing the problems. Thanks for your help, but I managed to get one from Niehaus at a cheaper price. Mind you the cost of getting it to NZ was three times the cost of the switch.

Just the switch alone here in NZ would cost about twice the total cost ....... if you could get one off the shelf.

Once again thanks.

Kiwi

kwild · Post by **kwild** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 3:15 pm

Kiwi2, you should be able to split the micro switch and clean the posts. Assuming the switch is similar to that on my 1200, it's really easy to do.

Post by **WingAdmin** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:04 am

$10, and in stock to ship today: Front Brake Light Switch

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:06 pm

kwild wrote:Kiwi2, you should be able to split the micro switch and clean the posts. Assuming the switch is similar to that on my 1200, it's really easy to do.

Good morning kwild, I had a look at my switch and it is a little different to your's, not by much though.
Mine has four pins whereas yours has two.
I will wait until the replacement switch arrives before I attempt to pull it apart.

But thank you anyway.

Kiwi2

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:57 pm

[quote="WingAdmin"]$10, and in stock to ship today: Front Brake Light Switch

Hi WingAdmin, thanks for the offer. But I have already ordered one from Niehaus Cycle. The basic cost is not the problem, it's getting it to NZ that makes it more expensive.

But thanks anyway.

Kiwi2

liquineer · Post by **liquineer** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:16 am

Yes I have the same problem Kiwi2- basic cost of items not to bad, but if it comes from USA, then shipping is a killer- but if you can get them in the UK, they are usually double the price and then some.

redial · Post by **redial** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:23 pm

I found one in Oz, for about AU$18 (exchange rate is currently AU$1.00=NZ$1.25 - at the million dollar rate), so next time perhaps you could try Oz and save on the shipping/postage. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:57 am

redial wrote:I found one in Oz, for about AU$18 (exchange rate is currently AU$1.00=NZ$1.25 - at the million dollar rate), so next time perhaps you could try Oz and save on the shipping/postage. Let me know if I can be of assistance.

Thanks Redial, I just hope I don't need another one. This one lasted 25 years, so in another 25 years I don't think I will be riding bikes, but playing a harp instead.

Kiwi2

Kiwi2 · Post by **Kiwi2** » Mon Apr 22, 2013 7:47 pm

Hi peoples, sorry for the late reply, but I have now got my switch and it is fitted to the bike and now we are all honky dory.

Post by **WingAdmin** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:14 pm

Kiwi2 wrote:Hi peoples, sorry for the late reply, but I have now got my switch and it is fitted to the bike and now we are all honky dory.

Glad to hear it's all working again!

CoachP7 · Post by **CoachP7** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:37 pm

Recently noticed my bike's brake lights were not working when I applied the front brake lever.

Was fortunate that my microswitch did NOT need replacing .. at least this time. As Dusty Boots showed, I took my switch off. I took some ccliontact cleaner and sprayed inside where I could into the switch itself. After spraying, I rotated the switch in my hand (right side up then right side down) to allow the cleaner to do its thing inside the switch all the while I pushed in and out several times on the actual contact nibs (?) to help get some of the cleaner to all the right spots inside.

Then, I made sure the wire clips were well pushed in before reinstalling the switch with the one phillips screw.

Make sure, however, that when you "set" the switch in-place (ie. last bit of tightening of the phillips screw) that the contacts DO make contact with the brake lever. As mentioned above (I think), when you pull in and let out the brake lever, you should here a "click". If the switch isn't quite in the right place, the brake lever CAN miss the two contacts (brake contact nib and the cruise ctrl contact nib).

After reinstalling, I started up the bike and ta hah !! The lights were working again.

Very simple procedure for anyone to do.

Thx DB for the pix submitted above.

Good luck !

CrystalPistol · Post by **CrystalPistol** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:05 pm

Kiwi2 wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:45 am
Hi guys, I found that the micro switch is at fault so I have to get a new one.

Any ideas where I can pick one up in the states.

1) They will be a lot cheaper.
2) I won't have to wait months.
3) The dealers here in NZ charge like a wounded bull.

What I had to do too.

Post by **WingAdmin** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:24 pm

CrystalPistol wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:05 pm

Kiwi2 wrote: ↑
Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:45 am
Hi guys, I found that the micro switch is at fault so I have to get a new one.

Any ideas where I can pick one up in the states.

1) They will be a lot cheaper.
2) I won't have to wait months.
3) The dealers here in NZ charge like a wounded bull.
What I had to do too.

Cyclemax keeps them in stock for $10: https://cyclemax.com/inc/sdetail/front_ ... itch/60684

Hand brake not operating brake lights

Hand brake not operating brake lights

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Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

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Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

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Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights

Re: Hand brake not operating brake lights