Brake Light Question - '77 GS550

[sammy123]

Hi everyone,

My front brake light does not work at the moment. I have searched the thread and found many posts about the mechanism inside the master cylinder houseing, but nothing on my particular situation.

I have a red wire that comes from the rear of the bike and runs over the air box and under the gas tank and then just hangs near the front of the bike not connected to anything. I assumed this was the brake light wire that connects to the brake.

I am not sure where this is supposed to go though. Does it go directly to the brake or is it supposed to connect to the wiring harness under the headlight were all wiring comes together?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[chuck hahn]

To "see"what this red wire is over the internet is kinda iffy at best..I would suggest that you ask if any close by members can come over and lay an eyball on it in person and have a printed out wiring diagram handy

[Steve]

In the stock wiring, there are only two wires that are red. One of them goes from the main fuse to the ignition switch, the other goes from the output of the R/R to the middle of the first wire. OK, on some bikes, there might be a third red wire. That would be the one from the battery + terminal to the starter solenoid.

The only wires that go into the rear light assembly are: black/white = ground, brown = tail, white = brake.

You will have to follow that red wire to see what it is trying to patch, because it didn't come from the factory that way.

.

[MisterCinders]

There is sometimes a brown wire that dead-ends in the front, because Suzuki installed an extra wire for running lights that weren't there.

If your rear brake light works (i.e., the pedal triggers the brake light), then you probably have an open in the wiring up front, or a bad switch at the front brake lever.

You do need to root out WTF that dangling red wire is though.

[sammy123]

Thanks everyone. I'll look into the Front Brake Switch Repair Tutorial and check all the wiring to start and see where it leads me.

[sammy123]

Hi everyone.

I opened up the front brake light switch and there was no small copper peice!! the previous owner must have lost it when attempting to fix it. I had some copper tape that I had bought for guitar shielding and made my own piece. I made the first one too thin, but the second attempt worked. I will have to monitor it to make sure it keeps working, but for now it is good.

Any suggestions on where to find some thin copper sheets to make a proper replacement?

[ChicagoBob]

I'd blow it off and replace it with a pressure switch - more reliable. If you don't want to do that, you can get original-type replacement switches from various sources pretty cheap, but they may need some adjustment to operate correctly.

[Steve]

Any suggestions on where to find some thin copper sheets to make a proper replacement?

Depending on how much you value your time for fabrication, it might just be easier and cheaper to get a replacement switch from Z1. I think it's a whopping $10 or so, you will get the plastic tab that goes into the brake hande, the copper piece, a spring, the circuit board with the contacts (and wires with connectors), the plastic cover and two screws.

.

[sammy123]

I cannot find that part at Z1. I have looked. Maybe I am missing it.

[cowboyup3371]

They don't always list everything on the website so you'll want to call them.

[sammy123]

I am happy to report that my fix is still holding strong.

I emailed Z1 and they tracked it down for me. $32. A bit expensive, but I will eventually get it so I don't have to worry about my light anymore.