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1981 GS1100E, Brake Light won't come on

  • Thread starter Thread starter freemanGS1100E
  • Start date Start date
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freemanGS1100E

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My brake light will not come when I use either my brake lever on the handlebar or my brake pedal. I have replaced the bulb twice and will try it one more time. I am not very good at electrical issues and not sure where to start after that.
 
But you have normal running lights? It's probably your brake light switch that needs adjusting or replacingcould
 
Thank you both. I will check both replies. The bulb is a dual filament bulb and there is also a smaller bulb below it. I have replaced the dual filament bulb twice already and the smaller bulb once. Both bulbs light up all the time, it's just the brake light doesn't come on using either hand or foot brake levers.
 
There should be a spring from the foot pedal to the bottom of the rear brake switch ( located on the right side frame just behind the side cover) ..is it there? If so, pull down on the bottom of the switch with the spring and see if the light comes on. If yes, then undo the jam nut and adjust accordingly. If pulling the switch plunger doesnt work then I would say the switch is toast.

For the lever..look to see that the switch itself is there. Look under the lever for a oval black plastic cap. If so, loosen the screws a little and move the brown waffle board betwteen the cap and the master cylinder housing to see if the light comes on. If so, adjust till your lever is making it work just as you start to squeeze the lever a tad.
 
The plunger on the rear break switch seems to be moving up and down completely and the light still doesn't go on. I also tried the front lever and loosening the oval cap and moving things around and that didn't change anything either.
As far as the light coming on, does that rear brake switch work for the front and rear brake as well?
 
freemanGS1100E said:
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. Both bulbs light up all the time, it's just the brake light doesn't come on using either hand or foot brake levers.
Click to expand...

Then you know the tail light assemblie's ground (black/white wire) is good and your problem is in the brake light circuit (white).

To trouble shoot electrical problem you really need a meter or at least a test probe light. You have not mentioned such, so I assume it is not available.

Maybe you can test things by disconnecting both wires to one of the brake switches and then jumper those two wires together (simulating what the brake switch should do). If brake light comes on then you know the problem is the switch.
As you pull harder on the front brake it takes weight off the back tire, so then the back tire can skid easier. THis is an important subject.

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freemanGS1100E said:
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As far as the light coming on, does that rear brake switch work for the front and rear brake as well?
Click to expand...
huh?
Either the front or the rear brake switch should make the brake light come on.

Oh... or are you asking about the brakes.....???
Oh, you really do need to understand that the front brake lever operates the front brake and the brake pedal operates the rear brake.
You really need to know that. The front brake has much more braking power. The rear brake doesn't have as much braking power and it can easy lockup and skid.

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Last edited:
Get a test light and get busy.
Maybe a switch is stuck on? The handlebar switches are junk and may need cleaned or replaced. Be careful when you take it apart since there is a little spring behind the contact.
 
I would do as Bill said first. Continuity tester and check the wiring for breaks, corroded connections, and be sure to check right where the wires crimp into the connectors..thats a notorious spot for rot and bad connections. Best bet is to clean them with a brush and solder them.that way your sure theres good continuity.

If all else fails and you need a rear switch I have some good ones. There are cheap switch kits on Ebay. Be damned sure you dont loose the little spring in there when installing the new guts.

You did move the brown waffle board all the way toward the end of the bars and still no light? How loose were the screws? You want them JUST LOOSE ENOUGH that the board will slide side side. Use a thin flat tip and push on the board itself...the black cap doesnt have much adjustment by itself. The board has oval slots to slip along the screw.

Here the rebuild kit for the front switch....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GS450-G...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ecf8b76a8&vxp=mtr
 
I really appreciate everyone's responses. Looks like I have some work ahead of me. I have never been very good at electrical stuff. This is a good opportunity to start learning.

I will run the wires and check for continuity first.

as far as the front and rear brake question I had. Thanks for reminding me that the brakes operate separately :-)
Not sure what I was thinking about (or not thinking about). I've had a couple of bikes with linked braking systems so I wasn't connecting the dots on the right bike.

I'll let you know how it goes
 
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