[S.D.Willie]

just curious. is this common when you replace the stock brake pedal with an after market one? i havent checked any bulbs yet(but the running light works fine) and i was just looking in the 1600 classic manual where it says there is an adjuster screw incase the light stops working. it doesnt work when you apply the front or rear brake at this point and i havent gotten outside to check it yet. im hoping that its just that actually.

 

[zedx11]

guess we have to assume that it was working before you replaced the brake pedal.

check the bulb then check the wiring/connectors

 

[Alizard]

just curious. is this common when you replace the stock brake pedal with an after market one? i havent checked any bulbs yet(but the running light works fine) and i was just looking in the 1600 classic manual where it says there is an adjuster screw incase the light stops working. it doesnt work when you apply the front or rear brake at this point and i havent gotten outside to check it yet. im hoping that its just that actually.

It's not the pedal. On most bike's, the front and rear brake systems are two different circuits. A mechanical switch lights the brake on the foot pedal and a hydraulically activated switch for the front brake. Sounds more like a dead bulb or blown fuse.

 

[zedx11]

It's not the pedal. On most bike's, the front and rear brake systems are two different circuits. A mechanical switch lights the brake on the foot pedal and a hydraulically activated switch for the front brake. Sounds more like a dead bulb or blown fuse.

not that I have seen on a newer bike. there should be a switch on the lever.

I could go look it up on Kawasaki Motorcycles, ATV, Jet Ski Watercraft, Utility Vehicles to make sure but no one else does it before posting.

 

[Alizard]

not that I have seen on a newer bike. there should be a switch on the lever.

I could go look it up on Kawasaki Motorcycles, ATV, Jet Ski Watercraft, Utility Vehicles to make sure but no one else does it before posting.

Are you saying they have a design where the same switch to turn on the rear brake light is actuated by both the foot brake lever and the hand brake lever on the handlebars?

That would be some interesting mechanical linkage to make that happen.

My point was that a bulb being energized from two different switches (no matter what kind) going dark probably means the bulb is bad since it's unlikely both switches would go bad or fail to activate.

 

[A2rider]

NO! The rear brake light is on its own electrical circuit, which is activated by the rear brake pedal.

I will defend Zedx11. He has been a bike mechanic for three years now, and has put together several hundred bikes together out of the crate. No one has ever come back on his work, either for mechanics, or assemblies.

 

[Alizard]

NO! The rear brake light is on its own electrical circuit, which is activated by the rear brake pedal.

I will defend Zedx11. He has been a bike mechanic for three years now, and has put together several hundred bikes together out of the crate. No one has ever come back on his work, either for mechanics, or assemblies.

And how many brake lights are we talking about? One, but it can be switched on by one of two sources: the foot brake or the hand brake.

Right?

That means there are two SEPARATE circuits with separate switches feeding the brake light bulb (front lever, rear pedal).

If the brake light stops working completely, how likely is it BOTH switched +12V feeds (which are parallel wired to the brake light filament) both failed together?

Ergo, screwing up the foot pedal switch ALONE should never make the brake light stop wirking if activated by the front handlebar switch.

OK?

I was relying on the OP's statement of:

it doesnt work when you apply the front or rear brake at this point

that, and 35 years of experience as an electrical engineer, when I said it was more likely the bulb (or fuse) than the pedal switch.

 

[A2rider]

Yes, you are correct. He needs to hunt down, or get a manual with the electrical diagrams, and find out which wire has become loose or disconnected.

 

[Alizard]

NO! The rear brake light is on its own electrical circuit, which is activated by the rear brake pedal.

BTW: that's exactly what I said if you read my earlier post:

On most bike's, the front and rear brake systems are two different circuits.

Which is just another way of saying it "has it's own electrical circuit" as you said.

 

[zedx11]

Are you saying they have a design where the same switch to turn on the rear brake light is actuated by both the foot brake lever and the hand brake lever on the handlebars?

That would be some interesting mechanical linkage to make that happen.

My point was that a bulb being energized from two different switches (no matter what kind) going dark probably means the bulb is bad since it's unlikely both switches would go bad or fail to activate.

you can not be that ignorant of modern bikes when you have access to parts fiche before you type something.

there are normally open switches on both the foot and hand brake. I am not aware of any bike that still has a pressure operated switch even rhino's, rangers, mules use these normally open switches for brake switch.

read my first post. told him to check the wiring and bulb. we got off on the switches because you don't know that they don't use pressure switches on motorcycles now.

 

[zedx11]

that, and 35 years of experience as an electrical engineer, when I said it was more likely the bulb (or fuse) than the pedal switch.

that explains it. is there something other than bountyhunter we should call you?

 

[JimmyD]

Yeah I read that zed was disagreeing on the hydraulic switch, not that there were two separate switches.

I figure the brake bulb was burnt out when you put the new lever on. I rode around on the vulcan for the better part of a month before anyone told me my bright filament was out. :x And I'm usually the FIRST TO COMPLAIN when people have a light out..... haha

 

[Alizard]

Yeah I read that zed was disagreeing on the hydraulic switch, not that there were two separate switches.

OK, and that is irrelevant to the issue since the OP's question (which I answered) was if screwing around with the brake pedal could knock out his brake light. The OP:

Brake light not working anymore

is this common when you replace the stock brake pedal with an after market one?

My answer:

It's not the pedal. On most bike's, the front and rear brake systems are two different circuits.

As I said, it's run by two different circuits activated by two different switches so that is impossible.

I don't really give a crap if every new bike has designed out the hydraulic switches, the point is the pedal switch alone can't knock out the brake light. That answers the question.

you can not be that ignorant of modern bikes when you have access to parts fiche before you type something.

In the future, I'll be sure to research all the irrelevant errata before I answer.

 

[zedx11]

I don't really give a crap if every new bike has designed out the hydraulic switches, the point is the pedal switch alone can't knock out the brake light. That answers the question.

ever heard of a short blowing a fuse causing the lighting system to stop working? moving one wire could cause the problem.

 

[S.D.Willie]

holy crap, how the hell did i start a debate? ha. its been so cold for the last week i havent even been able to go into my shed to check on this. i have a spare bulb for the tail light, extra fuses as well as the service manual. i hope to get to it this weekend and i will let you guys know how it goes. thanks for all the replies!

 

[A2rider]

It's winter, we have nothing else to do

 

[S.D.Willie]

Finally got out to the shed and simple enough, it was the bulb. I went straight for that first. Wasn't sure if the filament looked broken because it was hard to see since its a red bulb but after putting the original back in and seeing it light up fine i was convinced. Guess i'll have to purchase a few spare bulbs anyhow as they are good to have around. Thanks for the replies.

 

[A2rider]

Glad it was simple, and spare bulbs are always good to have.

 

[aftermath4788]

Its the cold weather I swear. No one can ride and all we can do it talk about bikes so we get a little agressive at times. Its all good though because in the end, we can still eat at mcdonalds together. You might get lucky and someone might buy you a double cheeseburger. Yes I am a dollar menuaire