No brake light

[Bilko]

I can't get my back brake light to work.

I've got a rear light.

Tried different bulbs.

The connections to the bulb holder are good and touching both points on the bulb.

The two connections to the brake light switch look good and seem to work.

[dapper]

Try swapping the wires to the two connections on the rear light unit first. If the brake light then works, you know that the light unit is OK. If that's OK, then put them back as they were and check that your rear light switch makes and breaks with a tester. If that's OK you've got summat wrong at the headset.

[Bilko]

...you've got summat wrong at the headset.

I think this is where the problem lies. I've had the headset top off a few times this week putting new gear cables in and fitting a a new hydraulic hose.

Thanks Dapper. I'll go and look now.

[Bilko]

Nope. That all looks ok in the headset.

Looking at the switch, the wee thingmie that goes up and down is getting pushed up at an angle by the brake pedal. So I'm guessing the connection is broke. :-/

[dapper]

Is it a new switch or an old one? You can drill out the rivets twixt the switch and bracket and then take the back cover off the switch, if you want to go that far Just try testing it first with a continuity meter to see if it switches on and off OK. It may be that the contacts are crudded up, or the spring is fecked/rusty. This is off my Injun Resto and the spring was rusted and broken. Replaced it with a SS spring and cleaned contacts (trying to retain as many parts that came off it for resto )

[Bilko]

Well I changed the switch for a new one & still no brake light. Not sure what to do now.

[dapper]

If you've tried swapping the wires over at the rear light unit and proved the brake light part of the bulb works, and you've changed the rear brake light switch for a good 'un, then you've lost the feed to the switch. A process of elimination, my Dear Watson. Onwards & upwards Bilkers, you old Fecker

[Bilko]

Cheers.

[Ricko]

You could of course of got a brand new duff switch...shocking I know but this sort of thimg happens from time to time.
Join the two leads of the switch together and see if you get a light, if not then bad earth connection or broken/ loose connection on the wires in question.
Rick.

[byron]

^yep
and also use your multimeter to test the switch
remembering that there should be continuity when the pin is out