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Brake Light Issue on my 1100ES

  • Thread starter Thread starter whereiwannabe
  • Start date Start date
W

whereiwannabe

Guest
My 83 1100ES has begun having a brake light issue. When I apply the foot pedal it lights up just fine. However, using the front brake lever it won't light up unless I squeeze the lever extremely hard.

The brake indicator on the instrument panel lights up occasionally as does the kickstand indicator but it has been doing that since I bought the bike.

The need to squeeze the lever hard is a very recent occurrence as I check that the brake light works whenever I fire the bike up for a ride.

As a noob, what's the recommended order of things to check?

The bike has 12K miles.
 
whereiwannabe said:
As a noob, what's the recommended order of things to check?
Click to expand...

1. Adjust the switch on the front brake.

2. Adjust the switch on the front brake.

3. ok, you know what it's going to be. :p



Since you're a "noob", look under the brake lever pivot, you will see the switch held on with two screws. Loosen VERY CAREFULLY, the screws are not very long. You should be able to slide the switch housing to adjust when the contacts will engage and turn on the light.

.
 
Thanks for this, it reminded me that I needed to go out and do just that! Cleaned the contacts up and adjusted it and now it works great again.
 
Image


Mine was doing the same thing. Cleaned everything up, but #8 was completely messed up and crumbled when I had everything taken apart.

Nic
 
Yeah, just had the same problem this week. Lady pulled up along side me and said that I had no brake light!! So I get back to the stable and check the conector under the seat. All looks good there. Pull it apart and grab the meter. Curious thing, would get 11V BRIEFLY when pulling on the lever then goto nothing. So I pull the two screws out and see that it's just a couple copper connectors. Pretty tarnished up, so took some 600grit wet/dry paper and lightly scuffed so they were shiny again. Voila! Working again.
 
After I took out the screws and everything fell out on the floor I sanded the oxidation off the copper strips. Seems to be operational again :).
 
Do yourself a favor and get rid of that stupidly designed piece of junk and get a pressure switch from Dennis Kirk or the like. Cost ya bout $20 and it replaces your banjo bolt. You squeeze the lever, it pressurizes the switch and the light comes on. Simple. Maintenance free (just clean is when ya clean your brake system) and cheap.
 
TheCafeKid said:
Do yourself a favor and get rid of that stupidly designed piece of junk and get a pressure switch from Dennis Kirk or the like. Cost ya bout $20 and it replaces your banjo bolt. You squeeze the lever, it pressurizes the switch and the light comes on. Simple. Maintenance free (just clean is when ya clean your brake system) and cheap.
Click to expand...

He just very simply fixed a 28yr old functioning system (?)
 
ptexotik said:
He just very simply fixed a 28yr old functioning system (?)
Click to expand...

And he'll have to do it again. They get crud in them, filth, guts, etc etc. Everyone of them I've ever had were either corroded beyond repair, the slide chewed up or solder joints broken. It's one of the first things I replace.
There's a reason even somewhat newer bikes did away with them. And if there's a better product out there, why not use it?
 
TheCafeKid said:
And he'll have to do it again. They get crud in them, filth, guts, etc etc. Everyone of them I've ever had were either corroded beyond repair, the slide chewed up or solder joints broken. It's one of the first things I replace.
There's a reason even somewhat newer bikes did away with them. And if there's a better product out there, why not use it?
Click to expand...

ok gotcha, and thanx.
 
TheCafeKid said:
And he'll have to do it again. They get crud in them, filth, guts, etc etc. Everyone of them I've ever had were either corroded beyond repair, the slide chewed up or solder joints broken. It's one of the first things I replace.
There's a reason even somewhat newer bikes did away with them. And if there's a better product out there, why not use it?
Click to expand...

But First time it's probably been cleaned in who nows how long and I don't have to spend the $20 that I really don't have :D If it aint broke, why mess with it for now.
 
I have to admit as I was picking up the parts and figuring out how it all went back together I wasn't overly impressed by the design. But it has lasted 28 years :).

Cafe Kid do you have a pic you can share of how the setup looks on your bike?
 
dueller said:
But First time it's probably been cleaned in who nows how long and I don't have to spend the $20 that I really don't have :D If it aint broke, why mess with it for now.
Click to expand...

My opinion? Cause that first time it doesn't work may be the last time after some oblivious cager slams into the back of you...

But that's just my opinion.

I don't have a pic of one as I never thought it was that big of a deal to take
A pic of it. Like I said, it replaces the banjo bolt at your master cylinder, and has wires coming out of it that splice directly into the wires that would have gone to that silly switch.
A search of google for something like "hydraulic motorcycle brake light switch" or something of that nature should gain many hits. :)
 
My 1000G has the switch installed at the front caliper. I put it there because I was rebuilding the calipers and found it convenient at the time.

It doesn't matter which place you put it, either way it works quite well.
 
Griffin said:
My 1000G has the switch installed at the front caliper. I put it there because I was rebuilding the calipers and found it convenient at the time.

It doesn't matter which place you put it, either way it works quite well.
Click to expand...
Only problem I see with that is that you now have to run wires along the brake hose.
Those wires will flex with every bump the front wheel encounters, increasing the chances for failure.

Another possibility is to replace one of the banjo bolts at the splitter on the lower triple, assuming you have one. :o

.
 
Can anyone tell me what size the stock single banjo bolt is to my front brake cylinder (83 GS1100ES)? I'd rather not have to take it off to measure it just to order the brake light pressure switch, then have to go thru bleeding the brakes, since I'll have to do that anyway when I install the switch. Call me lazy...

Z1's site says it is probably a 10mm x 1.0mm but wanted to confirm.
 
TheCafeKid said:
My opinion? Cause that first time it doesn't work may be the last time after some oblivious cager slams into the back of you...

But that's just my opinion.
Click to expand...


+1 to this ...



I'm as cheap as they come (why else buy a 30 year old bike) :dancing:

I cleaned and readjusted that damn switch 5 or 6 times till I finally said fugit ...

Best $20 I ever spent on the bike.
 
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