my bike is an 87 FXST....i noticed yesterday the brake light doesent work with the front brake... but does work with rear brake so in guessing the bulb is good. anyone have any tips on where to start looking for the cause......also i have to press the rear brake (cant just tap it) to get the light to work.

thanks glenn:usa1

Ive heard that the "switches" go bad on occasion have you put new grips on? or taken the control covers off? if so you could have messed up the switch... or maybe it got a bit crusty in there and ceased to work...

If you have a service manual it will show you where the switch is.

and hey it can be not all bad like that either.....

ie: you are speeding just a little and notice cop car behind you....dab the front brake to scrub off a few k's without tipping off plod you are doing it....

well i took the front master off and the throttle controlls..... turns out there is a flat piese of metal that goes between the plunger and the switch:confused ..loolk like piece moved down and wasnt hitting switch:mad ..so i adjusted it and now i got a light:clap ... also cleaned and reoiled air cleaner and she seems to be running top notch......if only it wasnt rainin i could take her out for a romp:tour

Glad to help... next time you work on those controls put a piece of cardboard into the lever gap so it holds the switch in place, and you wont damage it.

seems to be running top notch......if only it wasnt rainin i could take her out for a romp

Don't let that stop you!! Snow, maybe, rain...go for it!!:tour

Its why God made rainsuits

Glad to help... next time you work on those controls put a piece of cardboard into the lever gap so it holds the switch in place, and you wont damage it.


thanks ill try that if i have to work on them again....

Don't let that stop you!! Snow, maybe, rain...go for it!!:tour

Its why God made rainsuits


i was gonna but i had a few beers in me so it was a definate no no for me

ok its not working again:mad looks like the lever that releases the switch keeps moving up so it comes of the switch. is there any way to tighten up the lever so it doesent move up?.

well it turns out the rod//plunger for the master cylinder was worn where it fits into the brake lever..found a thin piece of metal thin enough to take up the space slipped in now the rod doesent turn and the light works:clap :clap

Glad to help... next time you work on those controls put a piece of cardboard into the lever gap so it holds the switch in place, and you wont damage it.

thanks ill try that if i have to work on them again....
The cardboard trick is for newer model controls where the switch plunger is an integral part of the lever casting. On the older controls the lever pushes the master cylinder piston only and the piston rod has a plate attached that contacts the switch, the lever does not directly contact the switch. The cardboard trick is to eliminate the risk of ripping the rubber switch boot when the lever's switch plunger slides past the switch boot. Since the same sliding action doesn't happen while assembling the older controls, I don't think the cardboard trick would have any effect on the older control housings.

Gazza