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Author Topic: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?  (Read 2621 times)

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Offline Methix

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Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« on: June 23, 2015, 06:04:41 PM »
Please forgive the ignorant question...  Maybe this is normal for these bikes, but I'm still getting used to working on an older bike.  Specifically, a 1973 CB500.

Is there supposed to be any switch on the front brake to activate the brake light?  Or does the brake light only activate based on the rear brake?  I don't see any electrical connections that look like they would be going to the front brake lever...
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2015, 06:13:11 PM »
Quote from: Methix on June 23, 2015, 06:04:41 PM
Please forgive the ignorant question...  Maybe this is normal for these bikes, but I'm still getting used to working on an older bike.  Specifically, a 1973 CB500.

Is there supposed to be any switch on the front brake to activate the brake light?  Or does the brake light only activate based on the rear brake?  I don't see any electrical connections that look like they would be going to the front brake lever...
Breake light front and rear, DOT regs.  The CB750 has a switch in the brake line mounted to a junction block bolted to the lower fork tree. 2 wires obvious.

I don't know on the 500s. But its either like that or its actuated by a switch at the handlebar lever.
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Offline Methix

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2015, 06:21:05 PM »
*fist bump*  Thanks!!  The CB500 had the same setup you're talking about.  It just never occurred to me to look along the brake line since I've always see the electrical connected to the brake lever.  Thanks again!!
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2015, 06:39:04 PM »
Quote from: Methix on June 23, 2015, 06:21:05 PM
*fist bump*  Thanks!!  The CB500 had the same setup you're talking about.  It just never occurred to me to look along the brake line since I've always see the electrical connected to the brake lever.  Thanks again!!

YW   :D
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline Duanob

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2015, 10:40:27 AM »
See if the wire is connected to the brakeline junction. If so try and clean the terminals and reconnect. If still no brake light, break out the multi-tester you may have a broken wire somewhere between the junction and the rear brake light. If you can confirm the wiring/electrical is good you may have grit or gunk in the hydraulic brake system itself. Time to clean and refresh.
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Online PeWe

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2015, 01:10:13 PM »
Check if rear lamp has a very sharp light... Mine had when brake switch was wrong adjusted to foot pedal.
Brake light was constantly on, thats why no difference when braking.
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Offline Duanob

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2015, 01:27:35 PM »
Quote from: PeWe on June 24, 2015, 01:10:13 PM
Check if rear lamp has a very sharp light... Mine had when brake switch was wrong adjusted to foot pedal.
Brake light was constantly on, thats why no difference when braking.

He says the light works with the rear brake which means it's adjusted OK.
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"Just because you flush a boatload of money down the toilet, doesn't make the toilet worth more",  My Stepfather the Unknown Poet

1974 CB360T
1976 CB550K2 Resurrected
1976 CB550F2 Barn Find
1979 CX500 VG "HONDA-GUZZI"
2007 Moto Guzzi Breva 750ie
2015 BMW F700GS
Another 1976 CB550K Cafe?

  __o
_- \_<,
(*) /' (*)

Offline Methix

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Re: Front brake doesn't activate brake light?
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2015, 03:06:21 PM »
Once MCRider pointed me towards where the switch was, it was an easy fix.  Both the female sides of bullet connectors were loose and just needed a little crimping so they would stay on.  I just had no idea the switch was even down there since I was expecting to find something around the brake lever.
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"So it turns out that being an adult is mostly just googling how to do stuff."

The Project Bike - 1973 Honda CB500
The Daily Driver - 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE
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