Need Help, Installing New Front Brake Switch

[Guest]

I'm going over my '80 GS 550L and fixing everything that the P.O. had done to the bike.

Right now I am installing a new switch for the front brake lever (to activate the brake light). The P.O. had taken it out and cut the wires, so I ordered a new unit from BikeBandit.

Now for the question, exactly how do I install it? There is a sweep that you have to place in the slot on the underside of the lever, but it looks like there should be a spring or something to keep the sweep over to one side until the brake lever is pressed. Does anyone have a picture of how to install the sweep (contact)?

I know it seems like an easy problem to fix, but I didn't have the original piece to look at, so I am scratching my head as to how it exactly works without some sort of spring or something.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Skateguy50]

Yea it needs a spring... mine had rusted up and had to clean the contacts off but the spring was shot.

Prob not the best fix but I cut off a piece of the spring from a ball point pen and it fit pretty well for the job.

Um how it goes together... well I did mine on the bike and has to fit the contact that slides with the lever up and in with the spring on it and screw the cover on without it moving.

[Nessism]

Switch should come with a small spring, a U shaped metal contact, and a small plastic piece that holds these two pieces together. This assembly is inserted into the notch in the lever, and the electrical contact caps it all off. Pretty easy to put together as long as you turn the master cylinder up side down so the pieces don't fall out.

Hope this helps.

[Colorado CJ]

Thanks guys that's what I though. Time to find a spring I guess, the new switch assembly didn't come with one.

[rapidray]

The spring has NOTHING to do with holding or moving the actuator! It is only holding pressure on the trigger to make it have pressure on the contact when it moves to that place. Ray.

[Colorado CJ]

I can't seem to get it to fit/work right. I must have a different front master cylinder than stock. There really isn't a place to install a spring, if I put it on the bottom part of the contact, it doesn't fit (the plastic on the contact is too short to engage the spring). If I place the spring in the same pocket where the contact rides (above the small rails), the spring makes the contact flip sideways.

If any one happens to have a picture, it would help greatly!

[Nessism]

[Colorado CJ]

Yes, I have all those parts. What I don't get is where do you place the contact (small part that sides) in the brake lever body. If I just place it on the two rails, it doesn't work as it just flips sideways when the lever is depressed.

I may have an after market lever, since it really doesn't have a place to set the contact in (I would think that there would be a slot in the lever itself where the pin on the bottom of the contact fits in so that the contact can ride back and fourth).

[Colorado CJ]

Yep, just looked at the microfiche on BikeBandit. I don't have a stock front brake lever, so the brake switch contact doesn't have a place to ride in on the lever. Sure wish I knew that before ordering parts

[Nessism]

Yes, slot in the lever where the pin rides. That must be your problem.

[Muser3]

brake switch

Another option is to use the switch that is actuated by brake fluid pressure. The switch assembly replaces the banjo bolt that goes into the MC. Very straightforward installation. Usually about ten bucks or less. Aerostich sells them for sure and others that I don't know.
Lee :-D