Front Drum, Brake Lever SWITCH - Identification help - 1971 CL450

[Waldo]

Story time: When I purchased my 1971 CL450 it was missing all the lighting wiring and fixtures (except for the headlight).
After some tinkering and my desire to re-install all the removed lighting, I found that someone didnt know what they were doing and had mixed up some wires so that it basically bypassed the ignition switch causing the driving lights to ALWAYS be on and energizing the entire harness except for the starter (that still routed through the handlebar kill switch and such correctly).
So likely they got super frustrated at the constant power draw and stripped the bike of it's brake and turn signals, often cutting wires close to the switches. or at least that's my guess since it's got a new battery and wires/lights cut/removed.

So I fixed the power draw issue, and basically re-created the wiring harness for the brake and turn signals. However I'm left with one component that I just cant seem to source correctly, the Front Brake Switch.

I've purchased 2 front brake switches that were said to be for the CL450 from 2 different places. However the black plastic housing is too big for the hole in the metal brake lever.
Not sure if brake lever is original, aftermarket, or even for a CL450. The Right hand controls had been replaced at one point with a black plastic housing on/off kill switch.
Also front brake is a drum, so not able to use the fluid pressure type switches.

CL450 switch purchased *does not fit*. Note the shaft of the switch tip is Square/rectangular with a rounded end:

Metal Brake lever/switch housing, hole switch is supposed to enter and have wires sticking out of:

Looking into the Round or Cylindrical hole the switch tip sticks out of where the brake lever would normally depress the switch tip. Brake lever removed for photo. Note Hole is Round (not square/rectangular):

Remnants of the broken switch removed from the brake lever. Note it does not have an outer plastic housing, this is how it came out. It might have had a "tip" piece too, I believe it was white and broken. but seem to have misplaced it:

I have tried removing the outer plastic housing from the newly purchased switch's in hopes the internals would fit into the brake switch hole (I actually attempted to modify the first one I purchased, but it didnt go well).
But no success. The Tip of the newly purchased switches is also the wrong shape (square shaft instead of cylinder).

Can anyone point me in the right direction to getting the correct replacement switch?
Is it possible I have a CB/CL350 brake housing? (I noticed the 350 has a round/cylinder shaft on the switch)

Thanks!

 

[ancientdad]

The parts of the switch that you show in the last picture are not all of it. It appears to me that the full-sized outer portion of the switch is still stuck in the lever perch, the hole in the center of it in the 3rd picture is the size of the little plunger that contacts the lever itself. Take a small punch and tap that remaining piece of plastic out of the perch toward the lever (or toward the end of the handlebar, since it slides into the perch from inside the lever area). The arrow in my picture points to the little notch that locates the switch when it's inserted into the perch, and you should be able to see through the entire diameter of that hole it's on the edge of.

I bought this switch from 4into1 and it worked just fine, in case the one you bought doesn't fit.

https://4into1.com/genuine-honda-front-brake-switch-35340-344-830-cb175-200-350-cl175-200-350-450/

Did you see this?

https://www.vintagehondatwins.com/forums/showthread.php?8-Tips-for-identifying-and-locating-parts

If you haven't read it yet (it's part of my "Welcome Package"), there are a lot of good suggestions for finding the parts you need from reputable suppliers who are often the lowest price as well.

 

[Waldo]

Thank you so very much!

I have been battleing this stupid switch for a month.
Yes I actually ordered the 2nd switch from 4into1, which is why I was pretty frustrated it "didnt fit".
and yes I made sure I read all the welcome package and such. Thank you for providing that. 4into1's ebay site is also a great source btw. individual parts tend to be cheaper due to cheaper shipping.

I just didnt realize the installation was from the brake lever side, kept trying to shove it through the what I now know is the wire side. That plastic housing blended in and looked like part of the brake lever.
I couldnt find any installation videos on this, so was left trying to figure it out.


Again, thank you so much! popped out the housing and replacement went right in!