Motorcycle Repair: Electrical, light switches, ground connections

Question
I have a 1978 Honda cb750k.My brake/taillight wont
work.I changed bulb and fuse.Wires look intact and all other lights work fine.Any suggestions?  

Answer
Hi Chris,

Check both brake light switches for proper operation.

Ensure all ground connections are clean and tightly fastened.

If neither brake lever causes brake light to illuminate, I suspect there's a problem with the wiring in that circuit and/or the light assy. itself may be defective. Sometimes, the bulb socket becomes corroded and dosen't conduct well. In that case, cleaning the corrosion restores the light to proper operation. Even if bulb and socket contacts are not corroded, dress (sand/clean) the contacts for best conductivity.

Use dielectric grease on all electrical connections. This helps prevent corrosion and water shorting.

Let me know what happens.

Respectfully,
Mark Shively