POS Rear Brake Light Switch

Big_Jim59 · Mar 30, 2011

I am on my third rear brake light switch. Is there a better, more robust alternative?

If I adjust the switch to just lightly touch, the vibration of the bike makes the brake peddle jump and the brake light winks off and on. If I crank it up a bit so that it closes securely the same action beats its little brains out. If anyone knows of a suitable after market replacement I would love to hear about it before I run off and purchase another one of these plastic marvels.

bpatton · Mar 31, 2011

Maybe one of those -Rear Brake Safety Spring - thingies would be enough to help stabilize the lever.

http://www.clubmanracing.com/nortonbrakes.php

Yetiman · Mar 31, 2011

Good question, I'm having the same problem. I'm on my second one

debby · Mar 31, 2011

I have EMGO repop switches on my bikes. I'd say they are of similar quality to the original Lucas part. :roll:

Some people have fitted microswitches from an electronics supplier such as Digikey. You'd have to do some fabrication work to get it mounted though. I don't have a clue how to do that sort of thing, so I'm still using the original-style switches. I bought one of those springs and it didn't fit, so I cut a rubber band from an old inner tube to keep the brake pedal up. Otherwise every time I hit a bump the brake light would light up.

Debby

rvich · Mar 31, 2011

Shouldn't the return spring on the actuating lever on the rear hub keep enough tension on the cable to prevent it from banging on the switch?

Russ

comnoz · Mar 31, 2011

I have always just done away with the rear brake light switch. The front brake is always used first anyway. jim

Big_Jim59 · Apr 1, 2011

debby said:
. . .so I cut a rubber band from an old inner tube to keep the brake pedal up. Otherwise every time I hit a bump the brake light would light up.

Debby

I never thought about making a smaller rummer band out of say a bicycle inner tube that would keep the brake lever from bouncing. I too have the "safety rubber band" but it is only there to keep the lever from digging into the ground in case of cable failure.

I thought that someone here had retrofitted a micro switch from Radio Shack or something and had pictures of the job.

850cmndo · Apr 1, 2011

Try this.

http://www.nortonclub.com/Merchandise/

swooshdave · Apr 1, 2011

850cmndo said:
Try this.

http://www.nortonclub.com/Merchandise/

$68?

Mother of God. :shock:

maylar · Apr 1, 2011

bpatton said:
Maybe one of those -Rear Brake Safety Spring - thingies would be enough to help stabilize the lever.

http://www.clubmanracing.com/nortonbrakes.php

It made a world of difference on my rear brake. Finally, the lever returns fully instead of getting hung up on the switch button. And it gives extra peace of mind about the cable breaking or the rear brake adjust nut falling off.

Those springs are on eBay all the time too.

Spaulding · Apr 1, 2011

swooshdave said:
850cmndo said:

Try this.

http://www.nortonclub.com/Merchandise/

Click to expand...

$68?

Mother of God. :shock:

YES!! WHAT is that thing? Looks huge... (price and otherwise)

Marathon Man · Apr 2, 2011

Big_Jim59 said:
I thought that someone here had retrofitted a micro switch from Radio Shack or something and had pictures of the job.

Here's my retro-fit. Unconventional but it works. Switch came with the bike so I thought "What the hell, it'll work".

gjr · Apr 2, 2011

Only 3 ? They go bad every few years. I keep at least one spare on hand. Usually the cover rots out and it either falls apart or get too corroded to work. POS is an understatement.

Greg

batrider · Apr 4, 2011

If they are going bad that often make sure the lever stops on the brake stop bolt not the switch. It sounds like the switch has become the stop. Dunno, mine is the original since 1972.

Russ

seaguy · Apr 4, 2011

Anglophile said:
Big_Jim59 said:

I thought that someone here had retrofitted a micro switch from Radio Shack or something and had pictures of the job.

Click to expand...

Here's my retro-fit. Unconventional but it works. Switch came with the bike so I thought "What the hell, it'll work".

Anglophile has the ticket. Easy fix and very affordable.

POS Rear Brake Light Switch

Similar threads