rear stoplamp works but running light doesn't

[Angerhouse]

Last night a guy pulled up next to me and told me my running light is out. I don't find anything on how the running light works in the Clymer manual, so if anyone can let me know what to look for, it'd be much appreciated.

I also found out my front brake lever is not activating the brake light (rear brake works), but there is a section on this in the Clymer manual. I expect to have to clean the contact point of the sensor.

[Hakamisu]

The front brake is activated by the electrical switch on the lever itself and if the rear brake is activating the light, you just isolated that snag to the switch or wiring associated with that switch. If it was the power to your front brake switch, there would be other snags associated with it.

As far as the no tail running lights. Try the brown wire.

If you check out this page and scroll until you find the GS400 wiring diagram link (on the right hand side) , that might help.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

[Qhergt]

Did you check to see if the bulbs were good? I had an issue with my break light not working, but my running light was. Filiments in the bulb were good, but a worn contact on the bulb itslef was the culprite

[koolaid_kid]

I'd put a multimeter on the front brake switch and see if it is working. If it is, it's time to start tracing.
And be sure and download the factory service manual from BassCliff's web site. Much better than Clymers.

[Angerhouse]

Thanks for the advice, guys.

So I found out the running light did not work because one of the two bulb filaments broke. I replaced the bulb and running light came back.

As for the front brake lever not activating the stoplamp, I took off the switch under the lever and cleaned the contact points. Everything look okay and all the components are there, here's some photos:

Contact point


Switch top


Switch bottom


Manually placing the copper contact point onto the two copper strips of the switch did not light up the brake light. I am no electrician but I thought this would establish a circuit and light up the brake light.

I went out to buy a multimeter but I have no idea how to use it. I put the big dial in the middle to 200VK and put the probes on the two copper strips of the switch and a number of 10.5 was displayed. Can anyone tell me what this means?

[Angerhouse]

Nevermind, guys. My rear brake light is working now. I don't think I didn't see the light last night so I believe it has to be due to a bad connection. Maybe that spring under the copper U-shaped piece is too old or whatever.