Brake Light Switch Helix clone By skunkhome (Read 1,425 times)

[skunkhome]

While working on the headlamp and taillight Monday I discovered that I have no brake light with front or rear brake.   Bulb is good but apparently getting no power.   I finally found the section in the Helix manual that covered the brake lite switch but there is no indication as to where the thing is.   I hate to once again go stripping the plastic off this bike. I broke one of the tail light lenses trying to put the darn thing back on Monday. Can someone tell me where to look?  

[cyborg]

there generally is a small micro switch by the front master cylinder,,,but that doesnt account for the front or rear not working,,,my money is a wire either got pinched or rubbed,,,and i also would take another long look at the bulb,,,sometimes they look great but really suck,,,just change it first to see where your at,,,thats where i would start

[skunkhome]

I certainly think it's somewhere in the line going to the light as the scooter starts as it should when you apply the brakes. I had the plastic off the handle bars and saw nothing going . There should be a cylindrical switch somewhere along the brake cable to the rear (that's how it is on motorcycles with mechanical rear brakes) but I don't want to have to tear all the plastic off if I can help it.

[cyborg]

Change the bulb,,or at least take it out and get some power on it to test it,,,the feed wire may have gotten jarred off of its terminal

[skunkhome]

Already did that twice. The bulb is good. There is a break somewhere. I know there is power to the switch, wherever it is, cause the bike starts.

[Guitarman]

Check the switches at the brake levers.

[skunkhome]

Don't see them. That is the problem first put forth in my first post.

[Guitarman]

It's got to be the ground for the lights then.

The bike starts = Brake lever switches (tiny little buggers) are good.
The bike starts = main electrical grounds must be good.
but no brake lights = bad ground for the bulbs second filament.

Take the bulb out and inspect the socket. Shoot some brake cleaner in there and pretty it all up.
Check all the wires going to it with a continuity tester. Put a bit of dielectric grease in the socket and replace the bulb.

Let us know the results. (if you haven't done this already. Forgive me, I never learnt to read.) LOL

[skunkhome]

Ground is good. Taillight works but not brake light. No power on the lead.

[skunkhome]

Since it has a foot brake it should have a Brake switch similar to that found on a motorcycle . Just can't seem to locate. Trying to shortcut stripping all the plastic off. Where are our Helix/Helix clone experts?

[Guitarman]

I don't think you have a choice. You're going to have to get it naked if you want to play with it.

[skunkhome]

I don't want to play with it. I want to fix what doesn't work and unload this thing. I've already stripped a good bit of plastic off before and have it back together. I shouldn't have to strip everything off just to trace the line from the brake line to the switch. If only someone who owns a helix or clone who knows where the switch is could tell me, I might be able to get to it by removing 1-2 panels. Looks like I'm beating a dead horse here if the only answer I can get is take all the plastic off.

[Guitarman]

Sorry man, but sometimes that's the only answer there is.

[cyborg]

Sometimes when the connectors are plugged in together it pushes the actual metal pin out of the plastic plug and it will be connected just barely,, then vibration or a bump in the road will dislodge it and then it's the Easter egg hunt trying to find the bad connection,,,, I'd start at the rear light and work my way forward,,, it's the only logical answer ,,, the machine starts so the forward connections are good,,, it's got to be in the rear if the bike,, it's a bad connector or a wire may have failed inside which I think is a remote possibility but it has happened,,,

[Alleyoop]

The button switch should be right by the foot brake when you push the brake pedal some part of the break pedal should push the button down on the switch to pass 12volts to the brake lights.