GL1500 4 way flasher switch sticking

Take some plastic safe contact cleaner or in a pinch WD40 and spray in around the switch, very common problem, best to never use the hazards unless you have to.
You can pull the #10 fuse and ride it but without the radio and you can't adjust the suspension pressure.

I have found that in an emergency you can heat the switch with a hair dryer which will soften the gunked up lube and get it to release.

As Dave said, plastic safe contact cleaner, available at your local box auto parts store. In addition, put a towel under it to keep the crap from running out on the bike and work the switch in and out with one hand while spraying in the cracks around the button with the other hand. Use the nozzle tube that comes with the contact cleaner so you can direct it where you want it. A lot of dirty crap will wash out of it while your doing this. Once this is done, then it is best to use some contact cleaner with lube and gently spray that inside and work the switch in and out. That will keep it working for awhile until it gunks up again from the elements.

John

Mine was sticking too. I had to spray quite a bit of contact cleaner in it to get it working properly. I try to remember to play with the switch every now and then just to keep it loosened up. I think that it sticks because it is rarely used.

CBH said:

Mine was sticking too. I had to spray quite a bit of contact cleaner in it to get it working properly. I try to remember to play with the switch every now and then just to keep it loosened up. I think that it sticks because it is rarely used.

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+1, I probably used a 1/4 of a can of contact cleaner to get all the crap out. I try to remember to use it more often now for the same reason.

John

My 4 way switch worked earlier this year but I just tried to use it the other day and it won't stay in. It will flash if I hold it but no knotch/catch that holds it in. I tried the CRC cleaner that someone mentioned with no effect but it acts to me more like a piece of plastic possibly broke off inside. This is another winter project I guess. I think this is a good safety feature if you happen to stop on the side of the road so I'll see 'wazzup' with it!

Start with a shot of wd40 and work it till it frees up then hit it with the electrical contact cleaner. I had to do that on a 93 1500 that had never been cleaned. Sometimes it takes multiple shots and lots of working the switches. The old grease that was used can get very gummy and has to be washed out thoroughly.

It's often best to seperate the switch block first (it's only 2 phillips screws from underneath it). You can then get the contact cleaner directly onto the slider and clean it more thoroughly. It's a good chance to clean up all the switches when you have taken the housing off the handlebar.

:claps::claps::claps::claps::claps::claps::claps::claps:

John J said:

It's often best to seperate the switch block first (it's only 2 phillips screws from underneath it). You can then get the contact cleaner directly onto the slider and clean it more thoroughly. It's a good chance to clean up all the switches when you have taken the housing off the handlebar.

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Good advice as usual from you 'old' guys! :bow: I picked up some CRC cleaner but it still wouldn't stay in when I pushed button, even after a lot of spraying. I then hit it with a couple of shorts of WD40 and then back to CRC. Voilà...It's working again. I did pull it apart but it looked fairly clean in there. Now I'm a happy camper! :action:

Where is the bulb that lights the handlegrip switches? I looked while I had it split in half but it wasn't real obvious. Neither side light up.

OldRider2 said:

Good advice as usual from you 'old' guys! :bow: I picked up some CRC cleaner but it still wouldn't stay in when I pushed button, even after a lot of spraying. I then hit it with a couple of shorts of WD40 and then back to CRC. Voilà...It's working again. I did pull it apart but it looked fairly clean in there. Now I'm a happy camper! :action:

Where is the bulb that lights the handlegrip switches? I looked while I had it split in half but it wasn't real obvious. Neither side light up.

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Glad that worked for you too.

Lights in the grips are non existing in the Aspencade(your listed bike) Only the SE have grip lights.

Thanks newday. It is an Aspencade but I thought it had lights.

Good to hear you are sorted now. As you could tell, sticky switches is a common problem and can keep happening over time. Once I cleaned mine as you have I sprayed some silicon spray into them and that helped to keep them working for longer. I found WD40 and contact spray works but seemed to dry up quickly.

I bought a 1998 last year and all the buttons were stuck in. Tried the contact cleaner and had no luck with it. I plan on keeping this bike for a while so I bought new switch clusters and had them put on the bike so everything should work good for a long time.

aw47. When I split the split block it really looked exceptionally clean in there but I'm assuming any old electrical grease caused the problem. During the summer I never had the problem so now that it's fairly cold probably contributed to it.

This is a link from the Goldwing Doc's site. It covers what John J was saying.


Ivan

Sorry I forgot the link

http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=9296

I just fixed 2 of them on 2 different bikes for buddies within the last 3 weeks... Actually, the hazard switch, the cruise switch, turn signals, and cruise accel/coast switches as well and even spritzed the start switch and kill switch too...

CRC contact cleaner works well and if that doesn't do it, you try some O'Reilly's brake cleaner - it is safe on plastic and works well for the real stubborn ones... If your using brake cleaner follow up with contact cleaner after that to lube the switch a bit...

I split the switch housing for best results - makes the switches easier to get to...

Les

Okay, just how far apart do you split the switch housings?

just enough to get the spritz wand inside?

I sure don't want to hear springs flying away.