Here’s a first.

Voodooo

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Took the Dominator out today.
And BAM!

Headlight switch cap flew off.
Interesting thing is, is now I can turn the headlight off and on. I assumed it was pinned “ON” internally. It’s just the switch cap that kept it from being turned off and on.

Ill be ordering a new assembly Monday.
Here’s a first.
 
interesting... a Norton staffer at Excel show told me two months ago that generally the switch cannot be made to work, as there are parts missing inside, so ‘ don’t try to force it....’
 
interesting... a Norton staffer at Excel show told me two months ago that generally the switch cannot be made to work, as there are parts missing inside, so ‘ don’t try to force it....’
No force was needed. It’s works exactly like a switch should.
 
There was most likely a small piece of plastic cut to fit in the recess, and that’s what stopped the switch working.

If you fit a new switch cover and leave out the piece of plastic, the switch will work.

Later Euro 4 bikes are different, the wire harness feeding the switch is different. Removing the plastic piece allows the switch to move... but it does nothing!

To get the switch to work on a E4 bike would require a new switch unit (the same unit is available as after market from various suppliers) and intervention into the main wire harness. Hence, I decided not to bother.

It’s a PITA tho, on track days you have to tape up the lenses, the headlight lens on the 961 is plastic, taping it up caused mine to overheat and start to melt!

I’ll take the bulb or fuse out in future. A functioning switch would be really rather convenient !
 
I bought from here before:

https://www.discovolantemoto.co.uk/handlebar-switch-left-hand-2183-p.asp

By pure coincidence, I fitted one to my ‘74 850 when I rebuilt it a few years ago, so was quite pleased the new 961 came with the same switch! Or at least I was till I realised it didn’t f***ing work !!

I bought another to fit to the 961 and that’s when I discovered that a minor re wiring job would be necessary. Hence it’s still on the shelf.
 
There was most likely a small piece of plastic cut to fit in the recess, and that’s what stopped the switch working.

If you fit a new switch cover and leave out the piece of plastic, the switch will work.

Later Euro 4 bikes are different, the wire harness feeding the switch is different. Removing the plastic piece allows the switch to move... but it does nothing!

To get the switch to work on a E4 bike would require a new switch unit (the same unit is available as after market from various suppliers) and intervention into the main wire harness. Hence, I decided not to bother.

It’s a PITA tho, on track days you have to tape up the lenses, the headlight lens on the 961 is plastic, taping it up caused mine to overheat and start to melt!

I’ll take the bulb or fuse out in future. A functioning switch would be really rather convenient !
You could just keep get into the bucket and separate the connector. I really am glad my light can be turned off on my 13
 
Separate the connector / remove the bulb... not much difference really, both require getting into the headlight bucket.

The real problem is I can’t turn of the lights when outrunning the feds at night.

Just in case you’re wondering... that was a joke...
 
Funny thing is my headlight bulb low beam burned out last ride I did in December.

So yesterday I rode with the high beam on. I kept getting people in cars giving me thumbs up as I passed them. So I pulled over thinking my high beam burned out.
It was still working when I checked it. So off I went.

When I got home I checked the bulb again and as I switched from hi to low beam, the high beam went out as well lol.

It’s a H4 bulb, this time I’m going with a brighter bulb and possibly LED which would be cooler and not get as hot. (Hopefully) and melt the tape like you mentioned Eddie.



 
Time to ride your Commando for a while!
Lol. I rode the commando for the first time in a long time a couple weeks ago. The comfort between the raised bars compared to the clip ons are pretty substantial.

I also ordered 2 new light switches.

My go to bike is always the Domi for in town rides, which are less than 50-60 miles total.

But you’re right, I need to start riding the commando more often, it’s quite comfortable.
 
Oh wow.
Last I did the tape my tape melted and made a mess

Ha, reminds me of a couple of years back I had a new Vespa lx125 that i fitted a chrome front rack to. I had to buy a new dvd recorder so off to the shop I go and pleased with my new addition I strap it to the front carrier. In the 5 miles home the box had leant against the headlight and melted the lense. Lesson learnt.
 
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