05-26-2016, 10:28 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 65
|
AND... No Brake Lights
It's been a rotten day for my Hawk. I just discovered that neither my front or rear brake activate the brake light. I don't even know where to begin trying to track down the cause of this one...
Turn signals, headlights, horn... everything else works. Just no brake lights.
__________________
John P. 2016 Hawk 250 - Black All my mods are documented on my Blog! My Blog | Google+ | Twitter | Facebook |
|
05-26-2016, 11:43 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
|
Check connections to front and rear brakes, make sure terminals didn't come loose. Also under seat near the rear of the bike and check the multiplug connector and re seat it and of course check the rear bulb. Nows a good time to replace brake bulb with led. Should be 1157 type.
__________________
***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
|
|
05-27-2016, 03:11 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 65
|
Ok, after spending more than an hour tracing and testing wiring and electrical stuff I finally figured out at least half of the problem. There is an actuator attached to the rear brake, and when it is pulled hard enough it will fire off the brake light.
On my bike I had to adjust it almost to the end in order to get it to light. Basically, I adjusted it until it was so tight that it turned on the rear brake without even touching the pedal - then I backed it off a little bit and tightened down the nuts on it so it hopefully won't move. However, that didn't solve the FRONT brake issue. It still won't light up the rear brake light. So if you were only braking with the front, people following aren't going to get an indicator no matter how hard you brake. I haven't been able to find ANY electrical linkage from the front brake designed to power the brake lights. So can you guys check your bikes and test out the brake light, both front and rear? If anyone can find any sort of switch for the front brake please let me know so I can get mine working. I can't believe RPS would sell any street legal bikes that don't fire off the rear brake light when you slam on the front brake!
__________________
John P. 2016 Hawk 250 - Black All my mods are documented on my Blog! My Blog | Google+ | Twitter | Facebook |
|
05-27-2016, 06:49 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: CO
Posts: 1,525
|
Are you sure no wires are going to the front brake master cylinder? Should be some wires (2?) on the bottom by the looks of the pic on RPS Parts webpage
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/4/7/8...68372720_o.jpg
__________________
"Think as you like... but this self proclaimed Professor is always right" - Buckshot "You never know what someone is hiding beneath their smile..." - NinjaTom - R.I.P. |
|
05-27-2016, 11:05 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
There is a banjo bolt switch you can buy for the rear brake. It would appear to be an upgrade over the stock mechanical switch.
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
05-27-2016, 11:31 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 65
|
Quote:
You don't happen to know where to get one that fits the Hawk do you?
__________________
John P. 2016 Hawk 250 - Black All my mods are documented on my Blog! My Blog | Google+ | Twitter | Facebook |
|
|
05-27-2016, 12:10 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Tuscaloosa Al.
Posts: 433
|
Quote:
__________________
Wingless Hawk, 2016 orange RX3, 97 wide glide,2003 KLR |
|
|
05-27-2016, 12:59 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 65
|
Quote:
Full size image They appear to be part of some sort of pressure switch that the brake lever is supposed to actuate: Full size image By design, it looks like when the brake lever is inactive it should push the little button in, and when the lever is squeezed it should let the little button pop out. I suppose this could possibly be how the brake light is activated. But it definitely isn't working on my bike. Could someone else check this out and verify what it does on their bike? If you just squeeze the brake and use something to push that button we can verify if it is indeed for the brakes.
__________________
John P. 2016 Hawk 250 - Black All my mods are documented on my Blog! My Blog | Google+ | Twitter | Facebook |
|
|
05-27-2016, 04:21 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
|
That's what we used to call "fixed". On our Harley's, we'd unhook the front brake light switch so when we blew past a cop, we could hit the front brake and the rear light wouldn't come on.
__________________
"Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350 |
|
05-27-2016, 06:08 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston texas westside
Posts: 40
|
might want to follow the front bake wires and reseat the connector behind the headlight. had a similar issue.
|
|
05-27-2016, 06:32 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 65
|
Ok, what I lack in brains I make up for with persistence!
I removed the front brake light switch and checked it. When not installed, it worked perfectly. Then I installed it, and it stopped! GRRRRR. Then I discovered that by loosening the one screw holding it in place, it magically started working again. So, chalk it up to a cheap plastic part that was compressed a little too much and prevented the mechanical switch from engaging. Oh well. At least out of all of this I now have intimate knowledge of the electrical system. And I've got an LED brake too! ;-)
__________________
John P. 2016 Hawk 250 - Black All my mods are documented on my Blog! My Blog | Google+ | Twitter | Facebook |
|
05-27-2016, 11:08 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
|
Excellent work tracking down the issue! Put some locktite on that screw so you won't worry about it backing out in the less than tight condition you will be using. These China bikes have a charm of their own with there little issues. You just have to manage their cheap fasteners and parts etc. Chinese proverb say, One must become one with machine, one must become ,the bike whisperer.
__________________
***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
|
|
|
|
|
|