break light problem

[Ride-or-die]

well im preparing my bike for the summer and i have to say im not the most clue'd up guy when it comes to bikes so i think i will be posting a few questions over the next few days or weeks.

first one is....

My brake light only comes on when i push hard on the rear brake, this should be ok just adjust the brake light switch for the rear brake, however the brake light never come on for the front break, im guessing again this must be a switch problem somewhere but theres no mention of a switch for the front brake in my workshop manual. can anyone tell me if there is one and if so is this likely to be the problem, i have a feeling its located in the front brake lever unit itself?? if so what could be wrong with it and how do i test it?

[Juvenilerider]

Try spraying contact cleaner on there, there has to be a switch on the lever somewhere.

You sure it ain't the wiring, didn't you have problems before when you put the undertray on??

[Tark]

switch is usaully located in the housing of the front lever and will have two wires going to it. There is usually no adjustment on this unless you have a span adjustment on the lever. As its not coming on at all I would say that there will be a fault with the switch or a fault in the wiring. if you locate the switch and disconnect the wiring you can test the operation of the switch with a ohm meter. when you pull the lever the meter should read 0 ohms or somewhere close. The front light wiring diagram should show the switch in parralel to the rear switch so that either switch closing will operate the light.

Hope this helps.

Mark.

[bayonet]

Don't panic, it's just a little microswitch, should be cheap and if you can use a screwdriver you can replace it yourself, doesn't even matter if you get the wires (little L shaped spade connectors usually) mixed up when refitting.

[Ride-or-die]

ok im still not panicking but im starting to get a bit annoyed. i dont have an ohm meter, so what i tired to do was disconnect the switch, then bypass it using some wire, therefore i would have expected the brake lights to come on, but no! therefore its either a problem further down the line or my plan was crap

[Ride-or-die]

well i hope you are all enjoying your go karting, i have officially given up after being at it for ages, i took the switch out, tested the wires... nothing.

i then took all the farings, seat, rear cowling and fuel tank off and had a look at the wireing but to be honest i can follow the wire but still i am none the wiser, therefore i am going to give up and take the bike to a garage and say fix it. i just have to put the f'ing thing back together first and at the moment i cant be assed, i'll do it tomorrow, however this will delay the bike getting back on the road no doubt.

thanks for your help anyway guys

[Tark]

ok im still not panicking but im starting to get a bit annoyed. i dont have an ohm meter, so what i tired to do was disconnect the switch, then bypass it using some wire, therefore i would have expected the brake lights to come on, but no! therefore its either a problem further down the line or my plan was crap

When you say bypass it i guess you mean put the two wires together?

[Spider]

lol dude all u needed to do is strip the switch down and spray it with contact cleaner 80% of electrical problems are dirty switches! im sure there is a joke in there sumwhere!

[gsxr dude]

m8 give me a shout if ur having probs ill come n give ya a hand one eve. that exhaust is sittin here aswell for ur mot let me know m8y.

[Ride-or-die]

When you say bypass it i guess you mean put the two wires together?

yeah i took the switch off, then i got a piece of wire, shoved one end in the one end that normally attatched so a terminal on the switch and the other end to the other one, therfore creating a loop, but nothing

[Lateshift]

i think the only way you are going to sort this J is if you get hold a multi meter so you can do a continuity test and actually find out if you have a circuit at all.

it doesnt sound too difficult, but its one of them things that if you arent 100% sure what you are doing, you wont know for definite if you are doing it right ;)

i just had a look at the wiring diagram for the 600 and it doesnt look that complicated to be honest, if the switch is disconnected and wire looped across from 1 side of the wiring terminal to the other then it should make the circuit, if it isnt then it maybe a simple fault on the wiring, it doesnt take much for the wiring to corrode in this UK weather :)

[Tark]

Who needs brakes anyway? They only slow you down. Never mind a light that tells others when your breaking. How hard will you look going into corners and everyone thinks you haven't braked. LOL.