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Old 10-06-2021, 08:34 PM   #1
Lawson Cox
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Default Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Trying to take pix of brake lights with new LED bulbs, but before putting in the new bulbs I find that my brake lights aren't working. Does anyone have the part no. for the HD low pressure brake light switch? Or any info on a good low pressure switch that will work with DOT5 fluid, and last for a while? I have a new switch, somewhere but can't lay my hands on it. Bad case of CRAFT.
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Old 10-06-2021, 08:39 PM   #2
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

TRY THIS SITE > https://www.jpcycles.com/harley-brake-light-switches


or this site > https://www.amazon.com/harley-brake-...e+light+switch
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Old 10-06-2021, 08:57 PM   #3
Lawson Cox
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

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Originally Posted by petehoovie View Post
HD doesn't know which switch you are talking about when you ask for a low pressure switch to use on a flathead Ford. Their eyes just glaze over. I went to their local store first, then their website. No help, that's why I'm turning to the experts on the Barn.
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Old 10-06-2021, 09:13 PM   #4
Adam/Mill Valley CA
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Lawson, Ron Francis Wiring has a nice low pressure switch:


https://www.ronfrancis.com/category/brake-switches


Adam
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Old 10-06-2021, 11:37 PM   #5
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Harley OEM part number:
72002-51

Accel is good quality, others not so much.
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Old 10-07-2021, 06:18 AM   #6
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

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use the lever type no fluid near it
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Old 10-07-2021, 06:57 AM   #7
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Odd; I have never had a problem with a Ford brake light switch, and I've had a few. I have never used DOT-5 brake fluid in an early Ford either, although I did have it in a Corvette. When I went through the brakes on my current car in 1987, I rebuilt the master cylinder and re-installed the brake light switch (which certainly looked original on a 66K mile car). It is still working fine.

I would surmise that this is a "current replacement vs original Ford part" problem.
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Old 10-07-2021, 08:31 AM   #8
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Ditch the pressure switch and use a mechanically operated one. No more worrying about the switch leaking or needing to bleed the brakes when you replace it. There's a reason why OEMs stopped using the former.
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:13 AM   #9
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

I went to the local HD dealer last year and got one. Haven’t installed it yet to see how well it works though. Part numbers on the package are 91500011 and 72023-51E
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Old 10-07-2021, 12:28 PM   #10
Lawson Cox
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Thanks a lot guys and gals. I found a new switch in my stash but I'm not certain from whence it came. I'm gonna go with it and hope it outlasts me. (Oh, Itslo, no need to bleed brakes when only replacing switch. {If you have replacement switch in hand.} Precious little fluid loss and switch is lower than fluid level so no air enters system.)

UPDATE:Computer crashed and my dissertation on brake light switch etc went with it. Short version. I've ordered new mechanical switch. What I will do is take a pix showing brake lights as is, i.e., incandescent bulbs with insides painted white, albeit a little yellow with age. A pix with incandescent bulbs with Mike's aluminum foil cup cake baking thingies inside. Then a pix with LEDs only, then one with LEDs and the aluminum cup cake thingies. If I have figured out how to post pictures by then, I will do so but if not I'll send them to v8coopman and ask him to post them on my behalf. Like McArthur, I shall return.
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Last edited by Lawson Cox; 10-07-2021 at 09:20 PM.
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Old 10-07-2021, 01:00 PM   #11
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Even HD electrical parts are made outside the US now days. It would be hard to say if it was any better than some others that have the same pipe thread and type of electrical terminals.

The last HD one I purchased was Hecho en Mexico.
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Old 10-07-2021, 01:57 PM   #12
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

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Originally Posted by rotorwrench View Post
Even HD electrical parts are made outside the US now days. It would be hard to say if it was any better than some others that have the same pipe thread and type of electrical terminals.

The last HD one I purchased was Hecho en Mexico.
I recently replaced a stop light switch on a Harley Dyna, low miles.
It failed closed and that's with only one tail light to power.
I don't have a high opinion of them.

Karl
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:07 PM   #13
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

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I recently replaced a stop light switch on a Harley Dyna, low miles.
It failed closed and that's with only one tail light to power.
I don't have a high opinion of them.

Karl

True, for the last several years, the reports on the Harley switches has been disappointing.

Lawson....it would take but a few minutes mounting and slightly lengthening the two pieces of wire to hook-up a well-proven mechanical switch...example below! They come in LEFT-hand & RIGHT-hand.




Just two screws to mount the switch to your wooden floor board, activated when brake pedal moves the lever arm. DD






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Old 10-07-2021, 09:25 PM   #14
Lawson Cox
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

I ordered the one with a solid lever. I've used one like it before. See my recent update.
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:39 PM   #15
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

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Originally Posted by Lawson Cox View Post
I ordered the one with a solid lever. I've used one like it before. See my recent update.

I just read your update, Counselor. Except for your computer crashing ......


COOL!


DD
.
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:55 PM   #16
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

I used an original hydraulic brake light switch that was on my '37 Chevy coupe when I got it. It worked fine on my brakes with DOT-5 for 27 years without a problem. I see the same NOS switches at nearly every good size swap meet.
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Old 10-07-2021, 10:30 PM   #17
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

I'm using a HD switch. No problems over 10 yrs. Maybe because I bought it 10 yrs ago. Has not been an issue and I didn't have to change any mechanical points.


Mechanical will always be better in the long term. Well at least this is what I tell a family member with a 2015 f150 electric tail gate that never works with no mechanical way to open it. He runs a cord down through connected to the coil lines under the bumper so he can get into his bed with the tonneau cover on. Ya they have replace the solenoids once already.

Last edited by Tinker; 10-07-2021 at 10:37 PM.
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Old 10-08-2021, 04:09 AM   #18
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Quote:
Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN View Post
True, for the last several years, the reports on the Harley switches has been disappointing.

Lawson....it would take but a few minutes mounting and slightly lengthening the two pieces of wire to hook-up a well-proven mechanical switch...example below! They come in LEFT-hand & RIGHT-hand.




Just two screws to mount the switch to your wooden floor board, activated when brake pedal moves the lever arm. DD






.
Coops, is that switch attributed to a certain make or model, or does it have a part number? If Rockauto carry them that is an easy route for me to get one.

Mart.
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Old 10-08-2021, 08:50 AM   #19
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

Mart I found one like it on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Keep-Clean-11...25175607&psc=1
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Old 10-08-2021, 10:26 AM   #20
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Default Re: Harley Davidson low pressure brake light witch

After the last HD switch went bad I went back to the mechanical switch with the 2 piece adjustable arm. The arm wouldn't stay adjusted so I ended up tack welding it. I at least would suggest that you use something like red Loctite on the adjusting bolt.
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