Brake light flickering - Please help

Discuss all things 1970 & later Airheads right here.
Post Reply
Blakearm13
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 4:50 pm

Brake light flickering - Please help

Post by Blakearm13 »

Hi everyone :D
The brake light on my 1984 R100 is flickering.
I know the issue is the front brake lever Is loose which means the contact point to turn the light off is not always being engaged. I’ve taken the lever off , I can see the contact point but can’t for the life of me figure out how to adjust or tighten the lever.

Any help would be much appreciated :)
User avatar
SteveD
Posts: 4910
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:29 am
Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Re: Brake light flickering - Please help

Post by SteveD »

Welcome. :)
Remove # 5 and inspect the lever. It might be too worn to be a snug fit anymore. Unsure if that is the fault though?
Then unscrew # 24 and clean it so that the switch plunger moves well. It might be stuck.
How do you know the brake light flickers? Riders behind?
The differential diagnosis is the right foot touching the foot brake lever? That switch is in a filthy area and can also get stuck. It'll benefit from a clean up too.

Image
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
Rob Frankham
Posts: 1214
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:11 pm
Location: Scotland UK, 20 miles from civilisation up a dead end road!
Contact:

Re: Brake light flickering - Please help

Post by Rob Frankham »

I would say you probably need to replace the switch.

There are two types of switches but both have plastic contact plungers which tend to wear with use affecting the contact point. Both types are also subject to damage from water ingress and general wear.

Neither type of switches is adjustable and they are not interchangeable.

The type shown in Steves picture is a threaded brass body which screws into the lever support... make sure it is properly screwed home... There are two versions of this type. One with the wire permanently fixed to it, the other with plug in contacts at the rear. These are interchangeable although you may need to replace the connecting wire if you fit the 'plug' type to a bike that didn't previously have it.

The other sort is a small plastic box with a plunger, secured to the support with a small screw... again make sure it's properly secured.

As I have said, these aren't adjustable, they aren't repairable so they are a 'throw away' and replace job. They do last a long time though.

Rob
ImageImageImage
Blakearm13
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jun 07, 2019 4:50 pm

Re: Brake light flickering - Please help

Post by Blakearm13 »

Thanks for the help, much appreciated! I took it apart again and gave it a clean. When I put it back together the issue had gone away. Cheers legends!
User avatar
SteveD
Posts: 4910
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:29 am
Location: Melbourne, Oz.

Re: Brake light flickering - Please help

Post by SteveD »

Blakearm13 wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2019 6:59 pm I took it apart again and gave it a clean. When I put it back together the issue had gone away.
Too easy. :) At each oil change give the switches a spritz of electrical cleaner. They're simple devices and should work for a very long time.
Cheers, Steve
Victoria, S.E.Oz.


1982 R100RSR100RS supergallery. https://boxerboy81.smugmug.com/R100RS
2006 K1200R.
1994 R1100GS.
Post Reply