Hitchcocks Forum

Gents - 2007 350 iron barrel - any advice please. My front brake lever is a bit loose and rattles around thereby setting the rear brake light off. I have adjusted the front cable but there is always enough play for the brake light to flicker on and off. Any tips on this one or do i need to replace the lever with something of better quality. Many thanks as always.

Hi There,
Is it confirmed that the front brake is at the root of this problem or could it indeed be the rear brake light swich causing the flickering? It is just a thought as I have had a similar rear light problem caused by the rear brake switch!!
Regards David

Rusty, you will probably find the switch isn't locking in properly into the lever, pretty dodgy setup, replace the switch and problem should be solved

Hi guys----------- had the same thing with the switch on the front disc-master cylinder......Stripped it, put some thin heat-shrink over the contacts and now it's a-ok !!

david w - no its definitely the front because if i move the front lever the light goes off. Norm - the switch looks to be seated correctly but i will double check against my nearest dealers stock (any excuse for a ride out). Alan - no such new fangled nonsense as a disc master cyclinder on my old workhorse. I am thinking its the movement in the lever so i may have to spend some money soon - well MOT time I suppose. Thanks.

Rusty, it's an easy check, push against the switch so that it is fully home and if the light goes off it is the switch, if not it's the lever.If the lever, araldite a thin piece of plastic where the switch touches the lever, doesn't need much, even a blob of araldite should be enough

rustygman... if you ain't sorted yet, pull the feed wires apart, if the prob don't happen again its the front switch, get a new un, a couple of quid or just remove the switch from the leaver all-together, if there's not one won't fail the MOT your rear break light will do the MOT, I have 4 bikes all the same (no front brake switch) and all passs the annual inquisition.

Hands up guys, I cheated, both my drums were seizing, rear shoes worn, my chain was knackered, the horn had snapped off (too tight to buy a new one just because the mount snapped) and with the busyness of christmas I popped it down to my mechanic (after ordering relevant parts from our hosts of course). He fixed the lever by drilling into the lever and screwing in a small screw that pushes properly onto the switch. Also shimmed the lever so it doesn't wobble around. I use my bike every day and do not have a garage so I consider all that work done for £75 money well spent (and a new horn mount). I do think the 6th winter had started to take its toll on the bike but it feels as good as new again - took her out for a blast to watch the river medway bursting its banks by way of celebration.

RUSTY,SEIZING? I don`t believe what i have read.

Hi Guys----------- bearing in mind the cost of labour in garages these days I'd say that was money well spent... JAFFA 90, those are direct translations from a BSA Owners manual ( I know I can say that on here 'cos BEEZABRYAN is visiting his family for Christmas !!)-----------He-He.