Brake light stopped working

[EvergreenXS]

Don't you know that I was just about to pull out of the driveway when I decide it would be wise to check my brakelight and now it's not working. The only cause I could think of was that I had been messing with my handle bars so maybe the wires got pulled on too hard. I opened up the headlight and they looked fine in there. Then I took apart the little switch by the brake lever which brings me to my question. Is there supposed to be spring in there? Nothing had come disconnected so that didn't solve my problem but it didn't make sense to me how it would work without a spring. I tried using a spring from a pen but it still wouldn't work. Any theories.

Also, my neutral light stopped working aroung the same time. The wire had often come loose before but now it won't work even when I hold the wire to the switch. Is there any chance these could be related? The tail light and turn signals still work. Thanks for the help. Also I should mention that I don't have a switch to turn on the brake light with the rear brake so that simplifies things.

[EvergreenXS]

So just to preface this, everything that has gone wrong here is related to me harboring (and uttering, I'll admit) the idea of selling my bike. I got myself the help I needed, don't worry, but now the damn thing won't let me ride it. Not legally at least.

First, the neutral light was out because the signal fuse was blown. Of course when I replaced it and squeezed the brake it blew again. Then when I tried to take apart the switch again it exploded and sent the little pieces ricocheting around the shop. It seems that the plastic housing for the switch is barbed where it sticks into its home by the brake lever. When this barb broke it unleashed the shrapnel.

So I know I'm stupid, I know I deserve it but the question remains: what the hell do I do now? So here I am, turning to the oracle for help. Even if I could talk someone into letting me steal this little switch assembly off of their master cylinder, how would I get it off without grenading another one? Does anyone have a better idea? I there a universal solution or a part of another bike that might work?
Please help.

[5twins]

'76 and older models used a hydraulic switch mounted in the junction block on the lower triple tree. Don't know for sure, but you might be able to adapt it to yours. Then there's always a new replacement from Mike's - $5.

[EvergreenXS]

Thank you so much for the tip 5twins. It hadn't even occured to me to look there for some reason. I'm feeling alot more optimistic about this already. A new switch may or may not cure my problem but it will certainly get me alot closer than I've been since I started 'fixing' it Does a Mikes' ban last forever do you think?

[EvergreenXS]

650Central has them too. $5.

[miker]

Or put your rear switch back in. Those are more universal.

miker