brake light flickers when the front brake pulled in - K4 - SV650.org

31-08-05, 07:15 AM

The brake light will not stay on when the lever is pulled in. It seems to flicker on and off once it passes the intial click sound of the switch turning on. I noticed if I wiggle the wires around at the level the light will stay on as normal. I cant't remove the wires from the switch to check the connection. Has anyone else noticed this.

Sid Squid · 31-08-05, 07:39 AM

It may be the connectors, and yes they be can be a bit difficult to remove, they don't feel very substantial and they're often quite tight, however the greatest likelyhood is dirty switch contacts.
The switch is held by a single screw, remove it, (even if you don't pull the connector off), and using some WD40 or similar, squirt into the gaps in the switch while clicking the button in and out.
Switch the ignition on and operate the button, the light should operate reliably, if not then the switch will likely require replacement.

When refitting the switch, smear a dab of grease onto the end of the operating pin, where it contacts the brake lever, it's surprising how much the little plastic pin can wear the metal of the lever.

31-08-05, 09:07 AM

That is exactly what I was thinking. I just didnt know what I could squirt in. I tried to remove the connectors, but they felt as if they would break rather than come free.
Does WD40 fix everything?

embee · 31-08-05, 04:17 PM

I recently had exactly the same problem as you describe, and yes it was definitely dirty contacts.

I actually dismantled the switch. Note that they are not intended to come apart, but will.

Take the switch off and look at the flat side. The 2 switch halves are held together with 3 pegs which go through holes and the ends are melted over (they are recessed in slightly). These can be prised apart and the melted bit pops off or just pulls through the hole. There are 2 one side and one on the other side, do the one on its own first, you can then do the others in turn.

The switch contacts can then be lifted out, cleaned, and refitted. I found the 2 halves then just popped back together, not needing any further fixing since the screw prevents it coming apart.

........or you can fill it full of WD40 and hope

........or you can buy a new switch.

Someone who knows a bit about electrickery type things suggested it was probably contamination from a cleaner or polish spray etc that caused the contacts to get "dirty".

01-09-05, 04:50 PM

I will give that a go.
Thanks

04-09-05, 07:09 PM

I opened up the switch. Good detail embee. No obvious problems found.
I took off the connector that connects the wires to the switch. I gave the connectors a slight brush of sand paper. All back together now and working fine.

embee · 04-09-05, 07:36 PM

good job done.

...at least if you have it happen again you'll know where to attack! :P

04-09-05, 08:40 PM

Its a K4... Get it back to the dealers & let them sort it out

05-09-05, 09:52 AM

Do people really go back to the dealer with things like that. I think it would be a waste of time to go to the dealer. Most of a day wasted when all it took was to clean a couple of contacts.

21QUEST · 05-09-05, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dclifford

Do people really go back to the dealer with things like that. I think it would be a waste of time to go to the dealer. Most of a day wasted when all it took was to clean a couple of contacts.

Unfortunately that's the world we live in now. You have got 'rights' you know

.

Cheers
Ben

31-08-05, 07:15 AM	#1
dclifford Guest Posts: n/a	brake light flickers when the front brake pulled in - K4 The brake light will not stay on when the lever is pulled in. It seems to flicker on and off once it passes the intial click sound of the switch turning on. I noticed if I wiggle the wires around at the level the light will stay on as normal. I cant't remove the wires from the switch to check the connection. Has anyone else noticed this.

31-08-05, 07:39 AM	#2
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	It may be the connectors, and yes they be can be a bit difficult to remove, they don't feel very substantial and they're often quite tight, however the greatest likelyhood is dirty switch contacts. The switch is held by a single screw, remove it, (even if you don't pull the connector off), and using some WD40 or similar, squirt into the gaps in the switch while clicking the button in and out. Switch the ignition on and operate the button, the light should operate reliably, if not then the switch will likely require replacement. When refitting the switch, smear a dab of grease onto the end of the operating pin, where it contacts the brake lever, it's surprising how much the little plastic pin can wear the metal of the lever. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

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31-08-05, 09:07 AM	#3
dclifford Guest Posts: n/a	That is exactly what I was thinking. I just didnt know what I could squirt in. I tried to remove the connectors, but they felt as if they would break rather than come free. Does WD40 fix everything?

31-08-05, 04:17 PM	#4
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,801	I recently had exactly the same problem as you describe, and yes it was definitely dirty contacts. I actually dismantled the switch. Note that they are not intended to come apart, but will. Take the switch off and look at the flat side. The 2 switch halves are held together with 3 pegs which go through holes and the ends are melted over (they are recessed in slightly). These can be prised apart and the melted bit pops off or just pulls through the hole. There are 2 one side and one on the other side, do the one on its own first, you can then do the others in turn. The switch contacts can then be lifted out, cleaned, and refitted. I found the 2 halves then just popped back together, not needing any further fixing since the screw prevents it coming apart. ........or you can fill it full of WD40 and hope ........or you can buy a new switch. Someone who knows a bit about electrickery type things suggested it was probably contamination from a cleaner or polish spray etc that caused the contacts to get "dirty".

01-09-05, 04:50 PM	#5
dclifford Guest Posts: n/a	I will give that a go. Thanks

04-09-05, 07:09 PM	#6
dclifford Guest Posts: n/a	I opened up the switch. Good detail embee. No obvious problems found. I took off the connector that connects the wires to the switch. I gave the connectors a slight brush of sand paper. All back together now and working fine.

04-09-05, 07:36 PM	#7
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,801	good job done. ...at least if you have it happen again you'll know where to attack! :P

04-09-05, 08:40 PM	#8
Cloggsy Guest Posts: n/a	Its a K4... Get it back to the dealers & let them sort it out

05-09-05, 09:52 AM	#9
dclifford Guest Posts: n/a	Do people really go back to the dealer with things like that. I think it would be a waste of time to go to the dealer. Most of a day wasted when all it took was to clean a couple of contacts.