Author Topic: High Beam Switch sticks  (Read 2735 times)

Offline fastxl

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High Beam Switch sticks
« on: April 02, 2022, 07:21:24 PM »
Was going to take my 88 K75 S to get safety inspected today and the pre-check before going I hit the high beam light switch, the high beam came on, blue light on the dash, but the switch will not return to the low beam. Took the switch apart and I could get it to return but now without pushing on the back of the switch. Is there any tricks to getting this to work ? Do I need to just purchase a new switch? I did try a little contact cleaner but it seems to me that theres a spring missing or something.
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Offline Laitch

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2022, 09:13:51 PM »
Read this thread. Look for the "bumps" in your switch. Here is a tutorial I downloaded piecemeal from the Web years ago. The original posting at the site where I found it is corrupt and the Photobucket photos in the original post have been corrupted by Photobucket when the account holder's account lapsed. I'm certain they will be helpful.


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Offline frankenduck

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2022, 12:37:37 PM »
You may not need to disassemble the switch more than taking the back off it. Headlight switch button removal may not be necessary.  You may just need to spray some lube at three spots. (I prefer aerosol silicone spray lube but you can resort to WD-40 if you have to.)

To start with, it helps to understand the how the "flash-to-pass" high beam return spring mechanism works. It's pretty simple.

Under the switch button there is a spring loaded rotating white lever.



There are two ribs under the bottom half of the switch button that it pushes on in order to return the button to the middle position.




What I would try first:

1 - Remove the switch from the clutch perch. There's a small Phillips screw at the bottom center that holds the switch to the clutch perch. It can be sticky so use a good screwdriver and apply lots of pressure to initially break it free. If you don't then you might strip the head of the screw.



Since there are several small screws involved, I recommend removing the left combo switch from the bike and doing this off-bike. If you choose to do it on-bike then consider doing it above a shoe box or similar to catch any tiny screws.

Now you need a very small Phillips screwdriver.

2 - Remove the turn signal and horn buttons: The turn signal button is held on by a small Phillips screw in the back. Once this screw is removed you can wiggle the button out to slide it out.



The horn button is held on by a small screw that can be accessed via a hole inside the back of the switch assembly. It's easiest to to do this if you depress the horn button while removing the screw. Note the spring and rod where the horn button mounts. (When putting the horn button back on the long end of the pin goes into the switch, the short end goes into the spring in the button.)





3 - Remove the 5 screws that hold the switch together: There are two different types of Phillips screws used. The short one goes in the top as shown here.



Now the switch subassembly will come loose from the housing.

4 - Spray some lube up under the bottom of the switch button at the base of the white lever. (If the white lever is not there then you'll need to replace the combo switch.)



5 - Spray a little lube at these two points in the back of the switch.




Now test the button to see if it returns better.



Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline fastxl

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2022, 05:01:18 PM »
Well here is my problem. The screw boss on the back of the switch is broke. Can these be purchased separate?


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Offline frankenduck

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2022, 05:57:34 PM »
The only buttons that BMW sells are turn signal buttons.

Does the STL in your signature mean St. Louis?

If you mail me a $10 bill I have a spare HL button in my stash that I can mail you.

Send me a PM with your email address, please. (Click on my user name and then Send PM.)

Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
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Offline fastxl

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2022, 06:55:47 PM »
PM Sent with email address. Thank you very much!!!
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2022, 07:40:13 PM »
I mailed you one with the black thingy still on it so you won't have to mess with screwing your old black thingy to the "new" headlight button.
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.
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Offline fastxl

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2022, 12:39:44 PM »
Part received, many thanks. The post office did there best to try and mess it up but it came through unscathed.


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Offline frankenduck

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Re: High Beam Switch sticks
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2022, 02:49:45 PM »
Thanks for the update. Glad it survived.

I guess I should have "bullet-proofed" it with some bubble wrap.

USPS must have special machines for mutilating packages. :laughing1:
Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

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