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Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:27 am
by Porge
I've honestly looked for a thread on this, but is there a trick with the light switch? I'm getting no lights, but can confirm light does work with the pass function.

I've pumped it with switch cleaner all over...getting nothing.

I'm tempted to go in and have a look. I figure it's not going to hurt. I mean, it's broken, right? :lol:

Do these pop up often?

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:46 am
by Rob
JUST PUT IT IN A LARGE PLASTIC BAG BEFORE DISASSEMBLY!

If you don't, a spring and a ball bearing will fly across the room, never to be seen again. (unless you are doing it in a "clean" room. Google aerospace clean room.)

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 4:56 am
by Porge
Have just returned from the shed. Had a snap lock bag, based on excellent advice from you previously. No ball bearing, but a spring. Are we talking really small? Maybe a PO has been here before me :/

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:33 am
by Rob
It is possible that a PO opened it, and put it back without the ball.

Others here will chime in on what size bearing you need. I am only helping based on what I have read more than once on these pages. I've never had a switch cluster apart.

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 6:40 am
by Kurt in S.A.
Maybe check the relay? I would check that before taking the switch apart.

Kurt in S.A.

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 12:49 pm
by enigmaT120
He already took it apart. Porge, did that switch ever work for you? If not, I bet Rob's right and you need a little ball bearing. Though I, too, have never disassembled one. Smash a ball point pen, find the little ball and clean the ink off, and see if it fits in the depressions?

If nothing else smashing a ball point pin should be satisfying.

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:27 pm
by Porge
I'm thinking of solder, dropped into a bucket of water. If we're talking ballpoint pen ball size.

Cheers Kurt. You might be right on the money. Does ball fit between two traces to make the circuit?

Re: Light switch

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:43 pm
by Porge
Wait. I think I remember the light being on when assessing the bike before buying. But the blaring horn and lack of cranking overshadowed it.

I did take the switch off the perch when trying to sort out the horn . could I have disturbed it then?

Re: Light switch

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:17 am
by montmil
IIRC, the little ball bearing 'rolls' into the selected switch location and does complete a circuit. The spring might (?) work on occasion before it bends/fails. You do need balls to ride these old Airheads.

Re: Light switch

Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:11 pm
by Porge
Okay. Made a replacement ball bearing with solder. Having looked carefully, the spring and bearing seem to do no more than offer a detent, so that the switch clicks. At the bottom of where the switch rotate, there's a couple of pads. The large pad appears to carry current, the smaller ones select circuit. Jumpering with a piece of copper wire, confirms the park circuit works. Not so on the main beam. Going to pore over the diagram to see if there are separate relays, etc.