Has anyone replaced the Rube Goldberg mechanical rear brake light switch with a hydraulic switch operated from the MC?

Not on the m/c, but a hydraulic switch on the rear caliper and also on the front m/c when the switch died on that - never had any problems with them, except for wires breaking off because I forced them through too tight a radius. Like you, I really don't like those plunger switches. When you wind the hydraulic switch into the caliper, make sure that the attached wiring 'rotates with it'. If you don't, you'll twist the wires inside the PVC tubing and that will break them at the point where they exit from the switch. You'll also need to solder extensions onto the wires because they aren't quite long enough.

Why didn't I just use a hydraulic switch on the rear m/c? I did - once. The m/c collects so much shit road dirt that the wires corroded through where they exit the switch in a matter of months. It looked like the PVC covering had hairline cracks in it, but I also put hands up and say that was probably one of those times when I pushed them through a bend that was too tight. YMMV depending on your local climate.

Actually, looking at your sig, you'd be in much the same dirty boat as me.

Dai wrote:Not on the m/c, but a hydraulic switch on the rear caliper and also on the front m/c when the switch died on that - never had any problems with them, except for wires breaking off because I forced them through too tight a radius. Like you, I really don't like those plunger switches. When you wind the hydraulic switch into the caliper, make sure that the attached wiring 'rotates with it'. If you don't, you'll twist the wires inside the PVC tubing and that will break them at the point where they exit from the switch. You'll also need to solder extensions onto the wires because they aren't quite long enough.

Why didn't I just use a hydraulic switch on the rear m/c? I did - once. The m/c collects so much shit road dirt that the wires corroded through where they exit the switch in a matter of months. It looked like the PVC covering had hairline cracks in it, but I also put hands up and say that was probably one of those times when I pushed them through a bend that was too tight. YMMV depending on your local climate.

Actually, looking at your sig, you'd be in much the same dirty boat as me.

What did you use for a switch? Link, p/n? Thanks

arbalest wrote:Has anyone replaced the Rube Goldberg mechanical rear brake light switch with a hydraulic switch operated from the MC?

Yes, I did it many time, as these hydraulique switches are cheaper and much more reliable than mechanical switches. Now each time I overhaul a brake line, I change the switch.

jbt wrote:

arbalest wrote:Has anyone replaced the Rube Goldberg mechanical rear brake light switch with a hydraulic switch operated from the MC?

Yes, I did it many time, as these hydraulique switches are cheaper and much more reliable than mechanical switches. Now each time I overhaul a brake line, I change the switch.

What switch do you use and how do you connect it to the caliper?

I use this type of switch:
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/131488464024
Don't order it, I did not check before if the thread, the lenght, the diameter is OK.
Note that this is design to fit a banjo type brake line. I usually swap OEM straight lines with this kind of connectors.
But if you want to keep the OEM lines, you can just interpose a T jonction to screw the hydraulic switch in anywhere.

BTW, thanks for the Rube Goldberg mention, I discovered his machineries!

Aren't his machines wonderful?




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So wonderful that I suspect BMW to get inspiration from them to design their actual motorcycles...

Wasn't Herr Goldberg head of suspension and electronic doodad engineering at BMW?