Rear Brake light problem.....

[rmzstang]

Went riding yesterday and noticed that my rear brake light only works with the front pedal. When I use the rear brakes the light does nothing. Use the front lever and it works just fine. Any ideas on what could cause this?

[cantolina]

Went riding yesterday and noticed that my rear brake light only works with the front pedal. When I use the rear brakes the light does nothing. Use the front lever and it works just fine. Any ideas on what could cause this?

Check the switch on your rear brake pedal....

[merc]

what are you doing looking at your brake light while you are riding?:laugh
just kiddin'
sounds like the rear brake foot lever is not triggering the switch or the switch is bad.
OR
you can use only the front lever.:D

[chrishajer]

If the front lever is the only one that triggers the light, then you need to look at the back. The back is a hydraulic switch. The easiest way to test it to remove the two leads from the switch, and jump them together (paperclip works fine). If the light comes on, then you have a bad hydraulic switch and you need to replace it. It's easy to do, but you usually need to bleed the rear brakes after changing the switch since you're breaking open the system and letting fluid out or air in.

If the light doesn't work when you jump the two leads together, you've got (most likely) a wiring problem with the rear brake light circuit.

--Chris

[rmzstang]

Thanks for the input!!! I just did some work on the rear brakes so I will try to rebleed them again to see if that works as well and jumping the switch!!

[chrishajer]

AH HA - if you broke the line open, and there's air in the system, then the brake light switch will not work. I thought about that too, but you never mentioned "the rear brakes are mushy" or anything like that, so I assumed they worked fine and the light was the only problem.

You can still do the test with the paperclip. If the light comes on, it's still the switch, but it could be because of a bad switch of air in the line.

--Chris

[ScreechXXVII]

I have a friend who has the same problem on her 2005 Sporty. Brake light works with the hand brake but not with the foot brake. Brakes are not soft. Where is the switch located?

BTW - new to the forum. I have a '94.

[skidmark]

I have a 2005 Sportster 1200C and hve had to replace my rear brake light switch twice in 2 years .Brakes are bleed good but i am wondering if there are not other 2005 owners having problems?

New one only last about 6000 miles seems like!

[ScreechXXVII]

I have a 2005 Sportster 1200C and hve had to replace my rear brake light switch twice in 2 years .Brakes are bleed good but i am wondering if there are not other 2005 owners having problems?

New one only last about 6000 miles seems like!


Where is the switch?

[jrwca]

Where is the switch?

It's on the left side of the bike just a little rear of the battery and down from the ignition cover.