New to me 1981 flh break light prob.

[johnnyshog]

I have a 1981 flh with a break light problem. What i was wondering is if any of my harley friends have ever had a simular issue. Now befor you ask no its not the bulb. I started by studing the wire diagram in the service manual. cleaned all the groungs, connections. checked for shorts. still no light.
the thing that has me is that at every connection, and even at the socatt i have a reading if 11.5 volts (same as tail light) i also have good connection in the oppisit direction(wire to ground) with the bulb in place.
perhaps a small piece of history may help. the previous owner removed the farring, siginals, a stereo, passing lights and a cb.
Its my hopes to have this bike fully restored in a year or so so i can put my knees in the breez and atleast feel free to ride and not worry. this is my first harley and the riding i have done has hooked me forever.
so thanks for any help you can give or if you jest wanna shoot the bull about this we can do that too.

I did a small edit to the origional post due to reasons only known to me but all other info remains the same.

[Texas Tom]

Are you saying the brake light is on all the time? or does not come on? the diagnosis changes depending on that answer...

[johnnyshog]

The light wont come on. i have power to the bulb when the break(s) are applied. but no light.

[Texas Tom]

If you have power at the bulb when brakes are applied that only leaves the ground. connect your meter to neg of battery,go to the side of brake socket that is supposed to be ground with other meter lead ,apply brake if you read positve voltage you dont have a good ground,if you dont read voltage your socket may be bad..

[johnnyshog]

Ok thanks i will try this and if it is the prob great buy i think i checked all the conections and grounds. but i will check this the way you subscribed, i will let you know.

[Jonas]

Johnny,

If the ground is good. (My first guess)

It could be possible the brake light switch is bad. Even though you see the 11.5 volts when you press the brake. Easy enough to test though, since there are two switches. If your testing with the back brake, try the front one or visa versa.

The only connections besides the bulbs/swiches.. The connection block under the Headlight Naccell(two red wires). Then the connector abovle the oil tank, that connects the rear fender lights to the bike. You might take a look at that connector.

Congratulations on the bike.

[johnnyshog]

Hay jonas. saw your post and i have tried both breaks. the rear break switch is hydrolic and the front is mechanical. the voltage reading is the same with both. I am starting to to do my winter storage and fix some oil leaks. this will give me more access to the rest of the harness. and even thowe i plan on replacing the harness i still want to find what the deamond is in this bike.
oh by the way that is a sweet ride you have.

[johnnyshog]

question--> should the oil light come on when the bike is NOT running with the ignition in the run position?

[Jonas]

Yes you do not have oil pressure the light should be on. Thanks for the compliment. I got a couple leaks too. I pretty sure I know what they are.