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Old 04-14-2012, 04:16 PM   #1
42merc/ma
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Default brake light switch

Is there a Harley Davidson brake light switch that works in old Fords. I am useing silicone fluid, regular switches don't last very long. Thanks
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Old 04-14-2012, 04:39 PM   #2
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Default Re: brake light switch

Got mine from Ron Francis 16 yrs ago and still working with Dot 5 brake fluid.
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Old 04-14-2012, 05:05 PM   #3
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Default Re: brake light switch

Here's the Harley-Davidson: http://www.summitracing.com/search/V...FQaFhwodIw3-hQ

Here's the Ron Francis:
http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SW%2D32
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Old 04-14-2012, 05:12 PM   #4
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Default Re: brake light switch

I just ordered a switch from Ron Francis. The connections are different but I can hopefully adapt to them. Thanks for helping.
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Old 04-14-2012, 05:35 PM   #5
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Default Re: brake light switch

I have been having problems with the brake light switch on my 47- V8 as I am using silicon brake fluid so I purchased Harley Davidson Part no MC-SLS2 brake switch which has spade terminals as silicon brake fluid is used in Harley Davidson bikes.
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Old 04-15-2012, 04:54 AM   #6
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Default Re: brake light switch

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I use the lever brake switch that I bolted to the floor boards and it doesn't use brake fluid just two wires
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Old 04-15-2012, 08:56 AM   #7
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Default Re: brake light switch

I use DOt 5 . I bought a Harley switch. It lasted 3 months.
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Old 04-15-2012, 09:29 AM   #8
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Default Re: brake light switch

Sort of related but not exactly - In October 2011 Harley Davidson issued a recall for over 250,000 touring, CVO and trike models for a problem with the brake light switch being exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust and causing it to fail.
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Old 04-16-2012, 02:59 AM   #9
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Default Re: brake light switch

Clem, what sort of brake switch do you use now with Dot 5 brake fluid? What I am concerned about with the Harley Davidson switch, I wonder if it carry the amount of current that is required for the V8 stoplights.
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Old 04-16-2012, 06:27 AM   #10
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Default Re: brake light switch

Harley switch works fine!!
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Old 04-16-2012, 07:49 AM   #11
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Default Re: brake light switch

I have used HD switches for years using Dot 5, with no problems, but I found out the newer ones were for a higher pressure system and my brake lights would not come on during most of my stops but would work when I pushed hard on the pedal. Put the Ron Francis low pressure switch on and have not had any problems. HD must have changed switches because I had one on a 40 sedan 20 plus years ago and it worked fine.
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Old 04-16-2012, 07:59 AM   #12
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Default Re: brake light switch

Quote:
Originally Posted by Clem Clement View Post
I use DOt 5 . I bought a Harley switch. It lasted 3 months.
Same thing happened for me with the Harley switch and DOT 5,failure. The Ron Francis switch has been working fine.
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Old 04-16-2012, 08:05 AM   #13
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Default Re: brake light switch

I had a Harley switch fail after a number of years. I dissected it to find out what happened. It turned out to be fluid leaked past the diaphragm and caused hydraulic lock not letting it make the connections. The contacts looked heavy enough to handle the current of the bulbs and showed no major pitting at the contact points.
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Old 04-16-2012, 08:58 AM   #14
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Default Re: brake light switch

I started out riding a 1977 74 CID electraglide that had DOT 3 from the factory and it is still working fine. I later purchased a 1981 80 CID electraglide with DOT 5 from the factory and I've replaced several switches on it. The last switch I purchased is the longest lasting one so far. Maybe they changed materials somewhere in there and got it right but I wouldn't know one way or the other. Most of this stuff is made in Mexico or Taiwan now so maybe I just got lucky.

Last edited by rotorwrench; 04-16-2012 at 05:31 PM.
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Old 04-16-2012, 03:46 PM   #15
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Default Re: brake light switch

The Harley switch I have just fitted to the V8 from a Harley dealer has been made in Great Britain, and ditributed by Standard Motor products Inc, Long Island City, N.Y.
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Old 06-05-2014, 10:09 AM   #16
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Default Re: brake light switch

Here's more info. on the Harley switch.
http://www.powersportsplace.com/sear...torder=Default
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