photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
fred harmon | profile | all galleries >> Fixing a stuck reverse switch tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Fixing a stuck reverse switch

How to fix a stuck reverse switch
First, you have to extract the switch from the housing
First, you have to extract the switch from the housing		 Remove the top dust cover
Remove the top dust cover		 Now pry loose the switch body by releasing the tabs
Now pry loose the switch body by releasing the tabs		 BE CAREFUL NOT TO LOOSE THE SPRING!! Once seperated you can see the components
BE CAREFUL NOT TO LOOSE THE SPRING!! Once seperated you can see the components
The black portion of the switch remains connected to the harness. Be sure to clean and lube it with silicone grease
The black portion of the switch remains connected to the harness. Be sure to clean and lube it with silicone grease		 This shows the two sections of the switch seperated (sorry for the focus problems)
This shows the two sections of the switch seperated (sorry for the focus problems)		 Here you can see the contacts with the springs underneath them
Here you can see the contacts with the springs underneath them		 This small rod in the bottom of the switch is the secret to how it works, and why it sticks. Clean and lube it with silicone
This small rod in the bottom of the switch is the secret to how it works, and why it sticks. Clean and lube it with silicone
There is a channel in the body of the bottom of the switch that the wire rides in (hard to see here, but trust me, it is there)
There is a channel in the body of the bottom of the switch that the wire rides in (hard to see here, but trust me, it is there)		 Also lube the contacts before putting it all back together
Also lube the contacts before putting it all back together		 Here I have the springs and contacts all lubed and back in place
Here I have the springs and contacts all lubed and back in place		 Carefully snap the two halves back together, without loosing the spring
Carefully snap the two halves back together, without loosing the spring
I also lubricated the slide once I got it back together
I also lubricated the slide once I got it back together		 Flasher switch
Flasher switch

comment | share
jfredman PM reply 10-Mar-2012 19:46
Taking it apart is the easy part. Getting it back together is nearly impossible! The spring is not the problem, but the contacts tend to fly everywhere and will not stay down in place when you put them back! After working for an hour, it is still not back together and now I have lost one of the little springs for one of the contacts.

I really appreciate this site and all of Fred's help and hard work. Guess I'm still out $150 for a new assembly now though.
Rick - Calgary, Ab. 23-Jan-2012 15:05
These Honda switches, also found below for fog lights and hazard flashers, are very finicky. I've had nothing but trouble with the hazard switch, eventually replacing it with a more robust Rocker switch which was a pig to wire correctly. This technique of keeping it cleaned and lubricated is good PM, but I'd be REALLY careful with the disassembly and reassembly.
SteveG 05-Jan-2012 04:59
Thank you so much for going to the trouble to show your fix. My switches have been acting up for about a year now and I have avoided using them. BTW, has the problem resurfaced? Shame on Honda for not bothering to solve this problem!
Al Toronto 07-Jul-2011 11:49
Just read the rest of the posts. Screw you guys obsessed with spelling. Can't you just be grateful for useful, FREE information? Geeze!
Al Toronto 14-Apr-2011 18:34
Fantastic. Congratulations on a great post. I had the sticky reverse switch problem and was looking to replace the whole handle bar module. Couldn't believe I found these instructions online. Worked like a charm with just a little lube. Thank you.
Jerry Winter 07-Mar-2011 00:58
Hi All,
I'm stuck on step 1 :-(
I have the clam shell open.
How do I extract the switch from the housing?
Don't want to break it.
Thanks in advance.
-Jerry
San Diego, CA
2003 GL1800
T Gardner 14-Dec-2009 18:54
Thanks for posting this solution. I was able to fix both the reverse switch and hazard switch with Liquid Wrench Silicone Lub. It has a long spray tube so I was able to lubricate the switches without disassembling them.
Rick Bittner 03-Sep-2009 00:57
Stumbled across your explanation while searching the web for a procedure on this. Worked perfectly. Honda dealer's solution had been to purchase a complete right-side switches module/harness assembly for $139.00 "on sale".

Thanks, Fred, for your efforts.
Tom Finch 07-Apr-2009 00:16
Well, I am going for the silicone grease, and I already have a baggie. I was thinking of a white sheet on the ground, but a baggie is better. Guess I had better do the hazard switch too. I just leave the fog lights on all the time.

Fred, you are a jewel as always.

Glen Turner 26-Mar-2009 20:49
Thanks Fred for the information. I used this same technique on my four way flasher switch on my 2002 GL1800. It works on the same principal. One question though, is the small rod in the bottom of the switch removable. I merely cleaned it where it was, relubricated it and it works fine. Thanks again....Glen
Jimmy 28-Nov-2008 06:04
Could you please post how one gets the housing apart
Brian 29-Jun-2008 00:39
Thank you for going through the trouble to do this! Like others, after Honda wanted to steal my wallet I was very grateful to find this... Greatly appreciated! B in Denver
Guest 23-Jun-2008 20:33
Sorry; I missed the GUEST comment,jeez I thought I had an orgional idea :-)
As far as spelling is concerned I still think pyhsical should be spelled with an F!
Rick Schmidt 23-Jun-2008 20:22
Know this is an old link but it reciently saved me quite a lot!
My only comment is to put the entire switch in a zip lock baggie befor prying loose the switch body.
My luck dictates I would have lost 2 out of 3 springs, so I put the switch in a baggie before opening it, guess what, the spring tryed to fly, but was retained in the baggie.
The rest of the repair worked as stated and did a great job. Took all of 30 minutes.
Mike 18-May-2008 00:10
Ok.. Say I did this and lost one of those springs :( Does anyone have any ideas where to get a replacement?
David Kelly 16-Mar-2008 02:19
Hey guys, if one is to complain about spelling one should get *all* the misspellings.

The word is "lose" the spring, not "loose." :-)
Guest 27-Dec-2007 20:23
First; THANKS for the info, it was easy to follow, and more to the point it works!
After seeing how the switch comes apart, I thought I would just order a new switch take off the contact point and install the new switch body, thus avoiding all the repair work (untill I called Honda to get a price quote on the switch).
$4.49 and 30 minutes later, I had the old switch out cleaned lubed and replaced.
My only input (after seeing your warning about loosing the spring) is to put the switch assembly in a zip lock baggie before disassembly of the switch body.
Inside the bag I opened the switch body, and the first thing that happened was the spring going flying, but it stayed inside the baggie, so no lost spring.
Again; thanks, it was the best $4.49 and 30 minutes I have spent on the bike.
Donnie 14-Sep-2007 16:53
Just wanted to thank you very much for taking the time to take the photos and post this info. I did this yesterday on my 2003 and my switch is like new. I used contact cleaner to remove the old grease. Even after reading your warning about loosing the spring the first thing I did was loose it and thankfully only for a couple of hours.
Tom Finch 11-Jan-2007 01:06
Fred, that is the way I spell seperate. It is the dictionary that is wrong!
Preacher 20-Nov-2006 17:21
I don't care at all about the spelling. Any one who spends this amount of time and detail to help others is a great person to be admired. God bless!
Fred H. 20-Nov-2006 16:48
Sorri. I kan't speel to save my lyfe.
Guest 25-Nov-2005 18:49
You mis-spelled "separate" a couple of times, but this is good info! I have saved it & printed it and put a copy in by bike!
click on thumbnails for full image