St2 front brake switch actuator

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013.

  1. St2 just failed its MOT on the front brake switch not working.

    all stripped down, buzzed out, cleaned up and switch is fine.

    the problem seems to be the actuator from lever to switch - has nobody had a problem with this before?

    basically, it seems there is not a lot of travel from on to off, so the actuator keeps the switch pressed (as if lever has been released) even when lever pulled pretty close to the bar.

    tried rigging a spring from switch to actuator to push the actuator away when grabbing the lever (therefore disengaging the switch) and it worked for a while.

    if anybody has experience with this problem and how to sort, help would be appreciated.


    thanks,

    Pete
     
    #1 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  2. Hi Steve,

    sounds like a good idea to overcome the PITA that is the switch and actuator - dont suppose you have a part number or link?

    cheers,

    pete
     
    #2 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  3. Just done a quick fleabay search and does this look like what you have?

    image.jpg
     
    #3 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  4. Hi Pete!

    The standard ST2 has an odd switch arrangement, where a small spacer sits between the lever and the plunger on the switch.

    This can become easily dislodged, but you can replace it with a small piece of rod or something else to simulate it.
     
    #4 stretta, Feb 28, 2013
  5. #5 stretta, Feb 28, 2013
  6. Cheers mate. Yes, the small cylindrical rod is there, but is not coming away from the switch plunger.

    Fiddled with it for about 2 hours last night, and got it working by putting a piece of spring around the switch plunger to push the cylindrical rod away when grabbing the lever, but got to the end of the street and it had stopped working.

    I like the idea of the pressure switch, less chance of it getting jammed with general dirt, and the switch arrangement is really fiddly to fine tune the on/off moment.

    Will have another go at the weekend, and hopefully get her all legal again.

    Pete
     
    #6 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  7. Are you sure?

    There should be a separate small cylindrical rod, you should be able to remove it with pliers or tweezers (without any force at all), and it doesn't form part of the body of the switch.
     
    #7 stretta, Feb 28, 2013
  8. yes (you are correct) it is a separate piece (fell out when I first stripped the switch off), but doesn't seem to move away from the switch plunger when I put it all back together.

    cleaned out with lots of electrical solvent, then some light oil in the hole where the cylindrical rod sits.
     
    #8 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  9. Bummer! In that case I'm stumped!
     
    #9 stretta, Feb 28, 2013
  10. No worries - is a 15 year old bike. Started 1st time after charging up and breezed the MOT other than the niggling switch - have had much newer cars fail on much worse.

    Pete
     
    #10 efcbluepete, Feb 28, 2013
  11. Steve - got in touch with Mdina, but out of stock of banjo pressure switches, so bit the bullet and ordered a replacement OE part.

    arrived this morning, and not yet fitted, but the new switch has a much stronger internal switch, so fingers crossed it should cure it.

    will get a chance to fit it Monday night, but thanks for the help so far Stretta and Steve.

    pete
     
    #11 efcbluepete, Mar 2, 2013
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