What is the secret to replacing the front brake light switch?

[XS1100 Newbie]

I cleaned up my front master cyl., and had trouble trying to unplug the switch. Finally it popped apart. (WHOOPS) I reassembled everything, now the switch doesn't work. Still have the rear to actuate the light thou. Just wondering the secret to replacing this switch.

[Silent]

Mine popped apart when I rebuilt my master cylinder too. I was able to get everything lined up and working again tho. You might want to pop yours apart again and fiddle with it to see if you can repair it. There's a hole on the underside of the brake lever housing that you can access the retaining clip. Just push the clip in and it should release the brake switch housing.

[Ken Talbot]

There is a chance that you broke off the plastic locking tab when the switch finally popped out. If this is the case, rotate the switch 180 degrees and plug it back in. There is a lock tab on the other side that does not normally get used. The flat face on the side of the body of the switch that is supposed to align it will no longer be doing its job, but the switch will stoll work. You will just need to be a bit careful not to twist it out of alignment or the lock tab could release.

[Ivan]

Broken lock tabs are easily remedied by threading a small (2 or3 inch) zip tie around the connector and between the wires to hold it together. Cheap and effective, and hardly noticeable if you match the color of the zip tie to the connector.

I also wonder if you have pulled the terminals out of the connector. Try taking a small screw driver and pushing the terminals from the back side of the connector, to make sure they are making contact.