Turn Signal Switch Lubrication

[cowboyup3371]

I have been fighting with it for the last two years where pushing it left activates my left turn signals without any problem. However, when I push it right I have about a 10% chance of getting it to activate. If I unscrew the insides and reseat everything than it starts working again for about 75 turns or so.

As the mechanism itself looks good, should I use some sort of lube for it?

[barnbiketom]

i dunno the 'correct' lube but anything is better than nothing .. I just use whatever i have laying aroung. JB BLaster, wd,electronic cleaner / combinations thereof?? etc...

[cowboyup3371]

I will try something like that then. Of course it's the issues like this that make me feel my bike is possessed as no one else seems to have encountered the problem

[bonanzadave]

I rebuilt my switch a few years ago and it had a dielectric grease inside. Mine has the auto cancel springs so using the grease to hold everything together, while I put the cover back on, was a big help. Been working great ever since.

[Nessism]

Used dielectric grease on mine too, after cleaning all the contracts to remove corrosion.

[NoBikeMike83]

I rebuilt my switch a few years ago and it had a dielectric grease inside. Mine has the auto cancel springs so using the grease to hold everything together, while I put the cover back on, was a big help. Been working great ever since.

A couple of days after changing the front signal housings (everything was working fine) I had a sudden no signal issue on my '81 1100e. Something on the signal circuit was creating very high amperage and blowing fuses. I was able to trace the source back to the switch. so I removed it and started to take it apart not realizing small springs and contacts would come flying out at me :/ . I was able to get it back together about 90% except for the two longer springs that provide the tension for the switch button. Do you have any pictures of how the switch goes together? Or know if anyone has done a writeup on it? Thanks!

[UncleMike]

I rebuilt my switch a few years ago and it had a dielectric grease inside. Mine has the auto cancel springs so using the grease to hold everything together, while I put the cover back on, was a big help. Been working great ever since.

I did the same.

[Steve]

You might be tempted to use WD-40. That might work for a short while, but is more of a cleaner and Water Displacement formula.
Follow that up with the dielectric grease and you should be fine.

.

[UncleMike]

You might be tempted to use WD-40. That might work for a short while, but is more of a cleaner and Water Displacement formula.

And it leaves that nasty chalk when it dries.

[Steve]

And it leaves that nasty chalk when it dries.

Which is why you follow it up with the dielectric grease.

.

[WilliamGLX81]

Hmmm. I opened this thread because my blinker switch is pretty stiff. Could I just squirt some white lithium grease in the slot, or do I need to disassemble it?

[Phred]

If you are going to take the switch apart, I wrap a plastic bag around it and poke a screwdriver through the baggie. There are tiny little springs and a ball bearing inside. rather than doing it on the bike I disconnected the harness and did it on the bench. There is an excellent post with pictures by Frijoles and beans 4/25/2012 page 10 of 20 on what you will find inside. When putting it back together the thumb button goes in from the outside, it has to be twisted back in. Hope this helps and Heaven help you if you lose one of those little springs. The dialectric grease helps a lot when putting it all back together.

[cowboyup3371]

I ended up disassembling the switch and cleaning everything up good then spraying a light coat of lithium grease. It has worked well since.

[Guest]

Hey there. I did a search for "Frijoles" and got nothing. I'm trying to find the post you mentioned about how to reassemble the left hand switch. That sounds like exactly what I need. Thanks for your help!

Scott

[cowboyup3371]

His account was deleted probably when they updated the forum some time back. I'll see if I can find something