| Author | Message | ||
     Ted |
Hi all, The tail lamp is only activated by the front brake. No running light or rear brake activation. I re/re'd the connections, bulb and fuses. Also i dont hear a 'click' from the rear switch when the pedal is used. Thats about the extent of my ability but thought i'd run it by you for any help. Thanks. I havent a meter so I'll probably wind up taking to a shop. | ||
| Akbuell |
First, I would go the connector where the switch plugs into the harness. With the ign switch on, one of the two wires from the harness connector should be hot. If so, jumper the two together and the stop light should illuminate. If not, the problem is somewhere in the harness. While in there, put the multimeter on ohms, connect to the brake switch harness, and push down on the brake lever. You should get a reading. If not, then the switch is the issue. Hope this helps, Dave | ||
| Akbuell |
My bad; didn't read your post carefully enough. If you don't have a saintly neighbor who has a mutimeter to borrow, they can be had for cheap at WalMart for a basic one, for example, on up to 'How much you want to spend' at Snap On, tool supply shops, ect. Handy thing to have about the house, in any case. Dave | ||
| Shoggin |
The terminals at the taillight are red for stop, orange for park, black for ground. You won't hear a 'click' from that one, just the front one. Check the taillight ground: The running light and brake light are 2 completely different circuits with the exception of the taillight ground wire. BUT the brake light power the front lever can still work by grounding through the park circuit, so check that black wire ground at the taillight by jumping it to the battery (-) and see if everything works. Check the park light: Key on. See if theres power at the orange wire with the key on. Yes? replace the bulb. No? check "lights" fuse. Now test the rear brake light switch: Key on, should have power at one of the terminals. No power? circuit issue between the brake fuse and that switch. Yes power? Jump the 2 terminals and the light should turn on. Yes? replace the switch. No? brake light circuit problem between the switch to the light. Should take about 1/4 of a beer to find the problem  (Message edited by shoggin on May 10, 2020) | ||
| Ted |
Thanks guys that gives me some things to try. A multi meter is a good investment. A beer would end my work for sure ! | ||
| Tpehak |
The rear brake switch does not do clicking sound, it activates silently buy oil pressure. You can check the rear brake switch without multimeter using just piece of wire or even paper clip. Follow the wire from the rear brake switch to find the connector under the seat. Disconnect it, turn the power on motorcycle ON, shorten the connector pins on the motorcycle harness side and see if it activates the brake light. If it activates the brake light the brake switch wiring or switch itself is bad. If it does not activates the brake light there is bad wire somewhere in between the connector and the tail light. Now you may need multimeter and maybe service manual with wiring diagram to find the bad wire and repair it. Do not touch any metal part on motorcycle when you shorten the rear brake switch connector terminals by paperclip! (Message edited by TPEHAK on May 11, 2020) | ||
| Joe7bros |
Is the exterior of the switch wet/oily? Replace the switch, it's a cheap part, under $10.00 anywhere but Harley | ||
| Ted |
Thanks you guys, I jumped the rear switch connector and got a brake light. I tried the tail ground per Shoggin but didnt get anything there. Does the Harley switch work for this? i found a xref for it at Napa. And can the wiring connectors to it fit? The Harley switch connectors are flat but i cant tell from the manual or parts book if it has the same connectors ,they look like they might be a pin type. (Message edited by ted on May 11, 2020) (Message edited by ted on May 11, 2020) |
