PR: Proprietary Items Godet Egli brake switch

[Normski]

Part of my problem is the spring inside the brake drum does not pull the works back to the rest position very well.



I think you can(should?) fit an external brake return spring to the brake arm, the brake light switch in your picture is fairly common and readily available, there are a others which work in the same way which you could try.

 

[roy the mechanic]

According to Les Emery(Norton specialist) do not ride without the external brake spring. I have the Triumph version of cable operated stop switch, gives a spongy feel, not impressed.

 

[TouringGodet]

TouringComet, I had a closer look at my Egli's brake switch and the spring looks exactly the same. Moreover, the number of the non-binding part of the spring is also the same: 5-6 turns, so I suppose the pretension is about the same. I don't have similar problems with the switch as you though. Did you check if the switch works smoothly if operated by hand ?

Yes, by hand, the switch does operate fairly easy, not as smoothly as I would hope. I suspected friction in the switch as one contributing factor. I'll try cleaning/lubricating the switch.

Normski, the external return spring sounds like a good idea too.

 

[Texas John]

Hi Steve,

Can't vouch for a Godet, but my Egli is fitted with a small microswitch fitted inside the front lever pivot. I nearly always use front brake rather than rear so makes a lot of sense to me.

Bill

Hi Bill, I would like to fit something like that to my 1948 Rapide. Can you provide more details of how/where you fitted a microswitch and what switch you used, please?

 

[Bill Cannon]

Hi Bill, I would like to fit something like that to my 1948 Rapide. Can you provide more details of how/where you fitted a microswitch and what switch you used, please?

Hi, my that's an old post! At the time I had clip-ons fitted which had a folded steel pivot welded to the bars which were wide enough to fit the switch inside.
I now have Vincent bars fitted with Tomaselli levers and the same switch is fitted underneath the pivot as in picture. The switch is one used in many applications on BMWs that I happened to have in my "useful one day" box. I don't have a standard Vincent so not sure how this could be applied but maybe easier on the balance beam?

 

[vibrac]

I fitted a brake switch on my bramptons I seem to recall my last Egli used a suzuki lever with an inbuilt switch and I think that lever can also take twin cables and a wiffel tree instead of the ballance bar (which is the lever type we use on the twin racer)

 

[bmetcalf]

Any good pix of the D setup?

 

[timetraveller]

And just to make sure that you know Ds used a brake light switch operated by the balance beam. Easily visible in any D parts list.

 

[craig]

http://thevincent.com/DERobersonLucasFF32Switch.JPG

 

[Texas John]

Thank you all for sharing various methods to add a brake light switch. I don't have a Series D parts book, only B and B+C books so that photos shows something I have not seen before. I will have to what I can arrange at the balance beam since I have Brampton forks, or perhaps rig something up on the brake lever itself. All good ideas.