mechanic1 Posted June 29, 2014 #1 Posted June 29, 2014 on my 86 VR....isn't the brake light suppose to come on when the front brake lever only is applied too?
mechanic1 Posted June 29, 2014 Author #2 Posted June 29, 2014 Ok....anyone got any idea's on quick things I need to check on for known problems with brake light not working from the front switch...? Works thru the back one.
KICKSHOT Posted June 29, 2014 #3 Posted June 29, 2014 The front switch would be my first suspect and then maybe where the wiring flexes as it is routed by the steering head may have broken. kickshot
Prairiehammer Posted June 29, 2014 #4 Posted June 29, 2014 Make sure that the plunger within the front brake switch is free. Check for continuity of the front brake switch wires. Check that the front brake switch is in fact properly positioned with in the housing (should be pushed into housing, not partially backed out.)
mechanic1 Posted June 29, 2014 Author #5 Posted June 29, 2014 Ok....thanks for the tips....will check it all out soon as I get a kitchen pass...lol.....she is going to want to ride soon...lol
bongobobny Posted June 29, 2014 #6 Posted June 29, 2014 Here's a write up on servicing the brake switch from our Read Only Tech Library. Member Dingy did an excellent write up... http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=42720
billmac Posted June 29, 2014 #7 Posted June 29, 2014 does the brake work ? is the lever sloppy?, can make the switch loose. check the wiring.
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #8 Posted June 30, 2014 Front brakes work as do the rear....light works when rear is applied....think I may have found the problem. looks like the switch is sticking...got it coming out more now that it was when applied but still may not be enough. Thanks for the link to switch maintenance
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #9 Posted June 30, 2014 Good info...but how do you get the front brake switch off without breaking it?
bongobobny Posted June 30, 2014 #10 Posted June 30, 2014 There is a little plastic tab where the square recess is that you push in with a baby screwdriver...
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #11 Posted June 30, 2014 Oh...ok....guess I need to get my glasses on and look at it good....lol....and it will come off without taking the whole right grip combo off?
dvuch1 Posted June 30, 2014 #12 Posted June 30, 2014 Yea that is a bit tricky ...but as mentioned in the previous reply a small blade screwdriver works well to depress the switch's notched locking mechanism. I think I spent an evening figuring that out how to get it out and its elusive on 1st glance....be gentle...if you can get by only lubricating the plunger and NOT taking the switch apart your better off....it's not complicated but it doesn't take much to screw it up....I actually had to eventually buy another brake handle assembly just for the Brake switch wiring as mine was beyond repairing....
dvuch1 Posted June 30, 2014 #13 Posted June 30, 2014 no you dont remove the brake handle assembly at all! Dave
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #14 Posted June 30, 2014 Ok, I got the switch off the brake lever.....I need to find the connector and check with an ohm meter....I assume it is somewhere down by the steering head...?
bongobobny Posted June 30, 2014 #15 Posted June 30, 2014 Yup! Take the front lower scoop off, 2 screws, and you can get to it fairly easy. You will also have to take the metal cover off of the lower handlebar assembly to remove the harness if necessary... Hey Storm Raven does all this sound familiar??
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #17 Posted June 30, 2014 Oh, are these switchs still available for 1st gens or is it an ebay thing now days?
Prairiehammer Posted June 30, 2014 #18 Posted June 30, 2014 Oh, are these switchs still available for 1st gens or is it an ebay thing now days? No longer available from Yamaha. But unless there is a catastrophic failure of the switch (melted plastic) the switch can be rejuvenated. See Dingy's write-up. Also, depending on Venture model, the inner workings of the clutch lever activated switch may be used to repair a defective brake switch.
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #19 Posted June 30, 2014 Ok....sanity check please...lol....from looking at the wiring diagram...looks like the switch connects the brown and yellow wire when bakes are applied and switch is in the "free" position correct? ....so with the switch out of the mount and free should be making that contact and completing the circuit for the brake light, so I need to check across those to wires in the connector for continuity and also....if I bridge thar connection on the other side of the connector and turn the ingnition switch on the brake light should come on right?
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #20 Posted June 30, 2014 ok...tests made...definitely the switch. Thanks a bunch guys. Now to go by dingy's info and get it apart....tried to get it loosened up but not luck at that so...
mechanic1 Posted June 30, 2014 Author #21 Posted June 30, 2014 Ok...switch had kind of got hot at some point and little melted on one side but I got it all fixed up now and is working good....Dingy's info was most helpful as was all that chimed in for me...thanks guys. Kind of wondering now what made it get hot and when did it do it...lol
Flyinfool Posted June 30, 2014 #22 Posted June 30, 2014 If the switch was dirty at some point the dirt can cause resistance which will make the switch get hot. A bulb can also burn our where the broken filament lands across the internal wires of the bulb causing a partial short and higher current draw for a short time. If nothing else shows any heat damage in the brake light circuit it most likely was dirty contacts in the switch.
mechanic1 Posted July 1, 2014 Author #23 Posted July 1, 2014 Well, just glad it is working good now.....and my newly formed coolant hoses are hanging in there and working great....so very soon be ready for long fun trips....lol
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