Brake light switch issue.....

[fjackie]

Hey what's up. I was recently fiddling with the bikes(K5 600) front brake lever and I noticed something odd.

When I squeeze the lever, the brake light switch makes a clicking sound, and the brake light illuminates. All good. But when I let off the lever just a tad(not enough to hear the "un-click" of the switch) the light goes off! It will even twinkle as if its making a crappy contact in the switch! From past experiences, the light should go on when you hear the clicking sound and off when you hear the clicking sound, NOT in between...

Does anyone know of a problem with brake light switches on radial-braked GSXR's? This is a safety sensitive issue.

Thanks....

[ST Guy]

The click doesn't necessarily have to coincide with the make and break of the contacts inside. So, if you move the lever ever so slowly, you can, indeed, slightly open the contacts but not trigger the mechanism that snaps the contacts back to the full open position. And by slightly opening the contacts what you're hearing is electricity arcing between the contacts. So.....

Don't do that. If the switch is working fine otherwise, then don't worry about it. At least that's my take on it.

[-Baker-]

doesn't sound like a mechanical problem this sounds like a rider question on function of switches.....

sorry, but this sounds like me saying.....

Hey guys while applying the brakes I hear a wine sound when the brake shoes touch the disks....is that ok and is it braking? I am being sarcastic.............

I'll go to my gsxr and test your experience. post back later....

[fjackie]

If I were sitting at a stoplight applying two fingers lightly to the lever, to where I can feel resistance, the light goes on, then twinkles, then goes off after about three seconds. I think it should not break contact when brakes are applied. Agree?

[Sane_Man]

I've always wondered. Do the brake lights actually come on, even when I can't see them? :wow

[ST Guy]

If I were sitting at a stoplight applying two fingers lightly to the lever, to where I can feel resistance, the light goes on, then twinkles, then goes off after about three seconds. I think it should not break contact when brakes are applied. Agree?


Check to see if the switch is adjustable. Sometimes the whole switch can be moved if you loosen the mounting screws. Depends upon the design. If it's that type of mounting, then position the switch so that it's off with the lever all the way out (obviously) and then with just a little bit of lever movement (before you get resistance from the brakes themselves) the switch activates. If the switch can be repositioned, it may simply be that the switch is maladjusted right now.