Have your dealer flash your bike to the CVO configuration for the switch. This disables the electrical portion of the switch. Then on/off is only controlled by the handlebar on/off. Still use the switch for locking the steering head.
But then again… The handlebar on/off is also not always reliable. I’ve had the problem not coming on when it was in the on stand… you had to fummle it a couple times on/off and then the bike would come on… these switches are sensitive for wear and moisture…
@HarleyGeezer1954 yes this is 100% true. I have a road glide ST and a road glide limited and had the dealer flash them before I took them home. Operates like a CVO. Most dealers won’t even charge you.
What you have in your hand is the lock. The actual switch is engaged by that rod. On the other hand I'm unfamiliar with fobbed bikes but that mechanism has been in use for 30 years or so with some modifications. The switch on my old 97 still works fine. You may be experiencing the general decline in the MOCO quality. Just saying
My 1987 Electra glide Sport has original switch, similar style, working fine with 104k miles. Live in a dryer state, but has seen fair amount of storms riding to Sturgis many times. Thx for sharing.
Pulled my key switch out to change my handlebars and the tumblers got out of alignment and it took me the longest time to take it apart and re-align them. 👍👍
Still riding a 1976 FLH ONLY A FEW TIMES HAS IT LET ME DOWN BUT I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO FIX ON THE SPOT. Some say AMF bikes were shit but I disagree I got 52000 miles on original motor and trans. With only having to fix swing arm bearings and shaft. Good luck with those new bikes Love the old stuff Solo tidet
I admire guys with the skill to take an old bike somewhere and have the knowledge and skill to fix it when it breaks down. I'm a little too old for that these days;.
Thanks for the info. Bought a 2023 Road Glide Special this past summer. I have about 7,300 miles on it. Was also in Sturgis this year. I’ll now keep an eye on the ignition switch key 👍🏻
On my second Harley and have not had many issues. Had a 17 ultra limited that the oil pump went out at 43k. That was a known problem. 21 road glide limited I have had Zero problems. Knock on wood 😮😮😮 25 k so far so good.😮
Stop switch on handle bar on my goldwing got me on perfect day. Had to get trailered home wiggled it a bunch on the side of road no go found it the next day just cleaned it now OK!
Had that same problem on my old bike the 2018 ultra in the picture. Never used the lock function again because of it. Now I use a disc lock on my 2022 ultra-apex.
I don't understand how a keyswitch gets Carboned up. I'm thinking that is graphite that is used for lock lubrication mixed with spay lubrication = a gumy mess. Probably just needed to wiggle the connection
The problem that showed up on my RG after the rain in Sturgis this last year, was the circuit board on the Speedo and Tach shorted out. Made the rest of the gauges act crazy.
I have a 2020 FXST with 18,800 miles on it and my cruise control started dropping out. I traced the problem down to the front brake switch. I took the cover off the right control module and worked with the switch by flicking it and letting it return back to it's default position. Then I used a product called DeOxit which removes corrosion and dirt from electrical contacts. Sprayed a couple of drops into the actual brake switch and worked it with my fingers several times. Re-assembled and it was fixed. Earlier, the bike had quit starting in gear. It turned out to be the clutch switch. Same procedure with the same results. These switches seem a little delicate to me.
i have a 13 heritage, and one day just out of the blue it shut down. tried everything to get the power back on, but finally after a few turns on the ignition switch it finally started. and it wasnt wet
I have had issue with mine on a few random occasions. I just turn on and off a few times, then it works. Then I won't have an issue again for many months.
I did that as well and it will get you going for a while. The little KEY section just wears out so you eventually have to replace it. Mine seemed to be doing other weird crap as well from getting carbon'd up.
Wow. Nice footage. So advice is to change out ignition key at 30.000 mls… if you want reliability?? And put in some silicon grease while you’re at it??
I had mine pop out. They greased it and it all went back together and I was good. Now it's happened again. It's a royal pain in the butt! I need to replace mine but they're expensive!
I don't know anything about the switch but I did have issues with the cruise control. When the brake light goes on the cruise goes off. I had a 2007 Ultra Classic With the miles in the 40s. Someone told me my brake lights were flickering. It was in my front brakes. I switch levers from my 98 Fatboy witch had no issues, didn't work. I replaced the lever bushing, it didn't fix it. I did have a small bungee cord holding the lever out for a temporary fix. I did not relish the idea of changing the switch. I put epoxy on the end of the lever and it curd the problem. Epoxy is pretty hard but if it didn't last for ever epoxy is not expensive. Not to say that is your problem, but it could be. Hopefully your new part will cure your problem.
wait till your keys fall out of ignition while traveling on DYNAS 95 &2005 replaced 95 with h/d overpriced switch and custom chrome on2005cc has no problems_
My mechanic diid. It will last a while for sure. But, sooner or later the key itself will round off and not work. Harley should probably chrome the thing.
well the good news is ,is by the time your bike is 8- 10 old you'll have had to replace almost every plug, and cencor if you ride in weather. im in ohio, i ride 12 months, got a 2014 roadking. that as we speak im waiting on a speed cencor. now to be far a rat crawled up there and chewed though the wiring.good times. what you want to go threw life with nothin to bitch about? not me i was always headed tward grumpy old man. haha
Wow my 2020 had a burr on the battery post that caused similar issue…easy fix cleaned it up. But now my 2007 had that problem with the ignition. Way back in 09, Took some WD40 and sprayed it up from the bottom and top… repeat every few years… never happened again. 90k on my 2007 ignition is flawless
I have purchased and road 48 motorcycles in my life, 4 of the most reliable ones were my Harleys. Don't make a big deal out of your problem, go ride a BMW if you want real problems.
Have your dealer flash your bike to the CVO configuration for the switch. This disables the electrical portion of the switch. Then on/off is only controlled by the handlebar on/off. Still use the switch for locking the steering head.
Is this true? I have never heard of that. I will ask about it. Thank you.
But then again… The handlebar on/off is also not always reliable. I’ve had the problem not coming on when it was in the on stand… you had to fummle it a couple times on/off and then the bike would come on… these switches are sensitive for wear and moisture…
@HarleyGeezer1954 yes this is 100% true. I have a road glide ST and a road glide limited and had the dealer flash them before I took them home. Operates like a CVO. Most dealers won’t even charge you.
What you have in your hand is the lock. The actual switch is engaged by that rod. On the other hand I'm unfamiliar with fobbed bikes but that mechanism has been in use for 30 years or so with some modifications. The switch on my old 97 still works fine. You may be experiencing the general decline in the MOCO quality. Just saying
You may be correct.
Never such a problem on my 98 with 100+K
My 1987 Electra glide Sport has original switch, similar style, working fine with 104k miles. Live in a dryer state, but has seen fair amount of storms riding to Sturgis many times. Thx for sharing.
This happens from 2013, and up I was told!. Mine I pushed it all back in and held it down then turned it and. Twala!
I have a 2015 FLHXS mine has 32,000 miles on it. I have the same problem.
Pulled my key switch out to change my handlebars and the tumblers got out of alignment and it took me the longest time to take it apart and re-align them. 👍👍
Still riding a 1976 FLH ONLY A FEW TIMES HAS IT LET ME DOWN BUT I WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO FIX ON THE SPOT. Some say AMF bikes were shit but I disagree I got 52000 miles on original motor and trans. With only having to fix swing arm bearings and shaft. Good luck with those new bikes Love the old stuff Solo tidet
I admire guys with the skill to take an old bike somewhere and have the knowledge and skill to fix it when it breaks down. I'm a little too old for that these days;.
I rode my '73 XLCH for almost 20 years. The only issues I had were operator error.
Thanks for the info. Bought a 2023 Road Glide Special this past summer. I have about 7,300 miles on it. Was also in Sturgis this year.
I’ll now keep an eye on the ignition switch key 👍🏻
On my second Harley and have not had many issues. Had a 17 ultra limited that the oil pump went out at 43k. That was a known problem. 21 road glide limited I have had Zero problems. Knock on wood 😮😮😮 25 k so far so good.😮
I rented a 2023 Road Glide on a vacation trip and had so much trouble getting the forks to unlock, I stopped locking it at each stop.
Thank you for the info . I have a 19 ultra limited an have 30.000 miles on it with no issues so far . But I will do the grease on the shaft .
Stop switch on handle bar on my goldwing got me on perfect day. Had to get trailered home wiggled it a bunch on the side of road no go found it the next day just cleaned it now OK!
My stop switch sometimes fails on my '87 Wing. I don't use the switch much. On and off a few times had always got it going.
Had that same problem on my old bike the 2018 ultra in the picture. Never used the lock function again because of it. Now I use a disc lock on my 2022 ultra-apex.
I don't understand how a keyswitch gets Carboned up. I'm thinking that is graphite that is used for lock lubrication mixed with spay lubrication = a gumy mess. Probably just needed to wiggle the connection
dielectric grease on the shaft will prevent that carbon built up, it was the very first thing I did when I got me new to me SGS home.
The problem that showed up on my RG after the rain in Sturgis this last year, was the circuit board on the Speedo and Tach shorted out. Made the rest of the gauges act crazy.
I have a 2020 FXST with 18,800 miles on it and my cruise control started dropping out. I traced the problem down to the front brake switch. I took the cover off the right control module and worked with the switch by flicking it and letting it return back to it's default position. Then I used a product called DeOxit which removes corrosion and dirt from electrical contacts. Sprayed a couple of drops into the actual brake switch and worked it with my fingers several times. Re-assembled and it was fixed.
Earlier, the bike had quit starting in gear. It turned out to be the clutch switch. Same procedure with the same results. These switches seem a little delicate to me.
i have a 13 heritage, and one day just out of the blue it shut down. tried everything to get the power back on, but finally after a few turns on the ignition switch it finally started. and it wasnt wet
I have had issue with mine on a few random occasions. I just turn on and off a few times, then it works. Then I won't have an issue again for many months.
I did that as well and it will get you going for a while. The little KEY section just wears out so you eventually have to replace it. Mine seemed to be doing other weird crap as well from getting carbon'd up.
4:40 Di-electric grease most likely. Keeps the moisture away for a bit.
Spray it out with brake clean or ether and lube with graphite for ignitions
I have a 2020 RG Limited with a little over 16k and so far I have absolutely no problems to report. BTW I do live in FL also.
I just happen to be one of the lucky ones I guess.
Wow on a 2020 , I have a 1995 softail , and their switches give out as well , just get wore out
Yep, you would think they would make them from better material.
Good thoughts. Thanks.
Wow. Nice footage. So advice is to change out ignition key at 30.000 mls… if you want reliability?? And put in some silicon grease while you’re at it??
Thanks, didn’t know about that either.
Good conversation Geezer
Left my brother happened recently on his ‘03 Ultra. They just wear out.
Yes they do.
My 2016 had to be replaced as well.
I had mine pop out. They greased it and it all went back together and I was good. Now it's happened again. It's a royal pain in the butt! I need to replace mine but they're expensive!
Thanks for the heads up
I don't know anything about the switch but I did have issues with the cruise control. When the brake light goes on the cruise goes off. I had a 2007 Ultra Classic With the miles in the 40s. Someone told me my brake lights were flickering. It was in my front brakes. I switch levers from my 98 Fatboy witch had no issues, didn't work. I replaced the lever bushing, it didn't fix it. I did have a small bungee cord holding the lever out for a temporary fix. I did not relish the idea of changing the switch. I put epoxy on the end of the lever and it curd the problem. Epoxy is pretty hard but if it didn't last for ever epoxy is not expensive. Not to say that is your problem, but it could be. Hopefully your new part will cure your problem.
I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I do you know if I rode a Harley I'd have some good towing insurance.
Thanks for the video that’s interesting
HARDLEY-DAVIDSON…….
Does it start?….Hardley.
wait till your keys fall out of ignition while traveling on DYNAS 95 &2005 replaced 95 with h/d overpriced switch and custom chrome on2005cc has no problems_
Did you try die electric grease?
My mechanic diid. It will last a while for sure. But, sooner or later the key itself will round off and not work. Harley should probably chrome the thing.
well the good news is ,is by the time your bike is 8- 10 old you'll have had to replace almost every plug, and cencor if you ride in weather. im in ohio, i ride 12 months, got a 2014 roadking. that as we speak im waiting on a speed cencor. now to be far a rat crawled up there and chewed though the wiring.good times. what you want to go threw life with nothin to bitch about? not me i was always headed tward grumpy old man. haha
It ain't got nothing to do with moisture. Your mechanic, doesn't have a clue. SCARY!
👊😎🤘
👋👋👍😎🇺🇸⚓️🇺🇸
Harleys quality has gone south my suggestion keep your older bikes 😢
Wow
my 2020 had a burr on the battery post that caused similar issue…easy fix cleaned it up.
But now my 2007 had that problem with the ignition. Way back in 09, Took some WD40 and sprayed it up from the bottom and top… repeat every few years… never happened again. 90k on my 2007 ignition is flawless
I have purchased and road 48 motorcycles in my life, 4 of the most reliable ones were my Harleys. Don't make a big deal out of your problem, go ride a BMW if you want real problems.
Bikes at the price margin.. shouldn't have such issues.. Harley not so good..😮
Forget the the Harleys and get a real bike. Im always amazed that people pay 30 k or more for a junk 100 year old tech nightmare.
Harley builds crap these days. Buy one, expect a recall.