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[Heatwave]

I assume that if you've gone to a 2:1 exhaust, there's really no issue since there's no x-under pipe to heat up the switch. Is that correct?

[sadunbar]

I assume that if you've gone to a 2:1 exhaust, there's really no issue since there's no x-under pipe to heat up the switch. Is that correct?

Not necessarily.  I boiled my clutch fluid this summer on a hard ride in the Rocky Mountains in 95+ degree ambient temperature - with my D&D Boarzilla.  I'm sure you could do the same to your brake fluid/switch.  Any pipe that runs under or along side the switch has the potential of contributing to the issue.

[Heatwave]

Not necessarily.  I boiled my clutch fluid this summer on a hard ride in the Rocky Mountains in 95+ degree ambient temperature - with my D&D Boarzilla.  I'm sure you could do the same to your brake fluid/switch.  Any pipe that runs under or along side the switch has the potential of contributing to the issue.

Thanks

[ultrafxr]

I assume that if you've gone to a 2:1 exhaust, there's really no issue since there's no x-under pipe to heat up the switch. Is that correct?

Switch on my '07 with D&D Fat Cats went out last summer.  I was checking my trailer lights when I discovered the rear brake did not activate the brake lights - no leak.  Really did not think much about it just replaced the switch and bled the brakes.  Bur now with my x-under pipe from Khrome Werks installed on the '07 I wonder about it.    And with the Khrome Werks pipe it would be one heck of a job to get the switch out without removing the head pipe.  Very tight space to work with.

[ultrafxr]

Jerry, the switches apparently aren't failing catastrophically.  Or at least they aren't normally.  Remember, however, that the Federal notice said even Harley was already admitting one crash related to this problem.  Even if it's a purely prophylactic repair you can't get "overly anal" about potential brake or brake warning problems.

So I shouldn't take the Alfred E. Newman attitude?  Probably not.  All I meant was that with everyone rushing out to the dealers to get this handled I may let the crowd thin out a bit before I take mine in.  I will definitely keep a close eye on it however!

[Midnight Rider]

I don't understand how replacing a brake light switch could possibly change the position of the rear brake pedal.     Someone enlighten me as to how that could be.

[Unbalanced]

Maybe someone did a bad job of bleeding the brakes 

[Midnight Rider]

Maybe someone did a bad job of bleeding the brakes 

My thoughts exactly, Harry.  I really haven't looked at the plumbing for the brakes on the new bikes, but I would assume the switch is downstream of the ABS module, so the digital tech would not have to be hooked up to bleed the brakes after installing the switch, just a regular quick bleed.   

[ultrafxr]

My thoughts exactly, Harry.  I really haven't looked at the plumbing for the brakes on the new bikes, but I would assume the switch is downstream of the ABS module, so the digital tech would not have to be hooked up to bleed the brakes after installing the switch, just a regular quick bleed.   

From what I read about bleeding the brakes on a bike with ABS the Digital Technician is required to veryify that no air remains in the system.  Don't know how it tells that but perhaps one of the techs could enlighten us.   

[JCZ]

My thoughts exactly, Harry.  I really haven't looked at the plumbing for the brakes on the new bikes, but I would assume the switch is downstream of the ABS module, so the digital tech would not have to be hooked up to bleed the brakes after installing the switch, just a regular quick bleed.   

The dealership said that the digital tech does have to be used for ABS bikes.  They had it hooked up....saw them using it.

[grc]

The ABS pump and valves (HCU - Hydraulic Control Unit) sit at the high point of the rear brake system, so anytime you open up that system the odds are fairly good that some air will migrate to the HCU.  Air that gets trapped in the HCU isn't easy to remove with simple bleeding techniques, so manufacturers have had special routines for many many years now that involve using a scan tool or similar device to run a program that activates the pump and valves as you bleed the system, to help remove that trapped air.  The ABS on your car or truck has the same requirement for bleeding, so what Harley has is definitely nothing new or unique.

Folks can do whatever they want I suppose, but my advice is simple: When dealing with safety, do it right, or don't do it at all. 


Jerry

[T-Hawk]

This may have already been covered...

My Dealer's Lead Tech told me last night that some of the bikes switches used a plastic housing and that they are replacing them with ones constructed of some kind of metal... alloy possibly?

The primary problem was too much heat was getting to the plastic switches causing all kinds of failures, so some people had different experiences with their problems than others.

Mine just so happens to be plastic... so, when the snow and ice have departed, it's off to the dealer for a swap out.  Although I didn't have any issues, and heat problems up here are rare, it's getting replaced all the same.

[hard10]

So I shouldn't take the Alfred E. Newman attitude?  Probably not.  All I meant was that with everyone rushing out to the dealers to get this handled I may let the crowd thin out a bit before I take mine in.  I will definitely keep a close eye on it however!

Just spoke to the local dealer here in Fl. I have my father's Tri Glide on the list which is now 20 long. Parts have been back ordered with no definitive timeline.

[ultrafxr]

The ABS pump and valves (HCU - Hydraulic Control Unit) sit at the high point of the rear brake system, so anytime you open up that system the odds are fairly good that some air will migrate to the HCU.  Air that gets trapped in the HCU isn't easy to remove with simple bleeding techniques, so manufacturers have had special routines for many many years now that involve using a scan tool or similar device to run a program that activates the pump and valves as you bleed the system, to help remove that trapped air.  The ABS on your car or truck has the same requirement for bleeding, so what Harley has is definitely nothing new or unique.

Folks can do whatever they want I suppose, but my advice is simple: When dealing with safety, do it right, or don't do it at all. 

Jerry

Thanks Jerry.  I knew there was a good reason - just did not know what it was. 

Jerrry

[LETS_ROLL]

For me:

  The first thing i noticed was the Cruz control wasn't working.

        second: I was told my brake light are on all the time, Blinkers worked, but running light were not showing due to the brighter lights washed them out.

        Third: After the new (old style) switch was replaced, my rear brake pedal was lower to step on (very little change , but it did effect the pedal)
 

 

Ditto for me . Got mine replaced on the 4th of Oct.  $52.00 , will ask dealer about refund and to see if know if the correct switch was installed.   Let's Roll