BMW Switch Reconditioning

 Back to bikes!  This is the BMW headlamp pod with the reconditioned combination speedometer/tachometer unit that you saw in an earlier blog. This concerns reconditioning the handlebar switches, seen on the left and right in the photo above.

 Here is a close-up of the headlamp assembly with the combination gauge and the right switch. Of the switches, the one on the left switches on the stop lamp when the front brake is applied. The right switch controls the left/right direction signals and engine start.

 This is a close-up of the two switches for the right handlebar.

The drawing shows the component parts of the LEFT handlebar switch which controls high & low headlight beams and the horn. As the rider moves the thumb control the rotating contact plate decides which beam is "ON". When the button is pushed "IN", the horn sounds. Quite a lot of "stuff" in a very small switch body.

Other than a broken wire, the only thing wrong with this switch was 40+ years of built up corrosion between the brass parts. After I cleaned it all up and repaired the broken wire...VOILA!  Good for another 40 years!