Basic Maintenance: Turn-Signal Switch

[rdprdp01]

1
Basic Maintenance: Turn-Signal Switch 

One of the many, many charms of a CB1100 centers on giving owners the ability to maintain the motorcycle without the help of a dealership or service shop. The inline 4 engine benefits from over 50 years of service. Other parts of a CB1100 are of equal quality. Honda considered each component meticulously using its formidable engineering, designing, testing, and manufacturing resources. I would like to believe they also considered that people most likely to buy a CB1100 may also want to work on the motorcycle.

At 61, I am fairly certain that I fall into the oldest slice on the membership pie chart.    I have spent a lifetime working on motorcycles. However, I am not even close to being the most skilled or knowledgeable wrencher on the Forum. You can read a thread from any of the Moderators or frequent posters and you will find greatness. My only claim to fame is enthusiasm. I love wrenching on a motorcycle to fix something which is broken and sharing that experience with other folks who like to be hands on.

I am not sure if the Forum needs detailed threads like the one I have posted below. I shared as much about my repair process as the actual outcome of fixing a sticking turn-signal switch. I hope the readers of this thread will let me know if I did something good or wasted everyone’s time!

I document everything I do for my CB1100Ex for reference. It is relatively easy for me to create threats like this one. Please advise. 

Cheers, David

~~~~~~~~~~

Honda Turn-Signal Switches need care and maintenance. When the Turn-Signal Switch works as designed, it is a wonderful switch. However, the design and exposure to the elements causes most of them to become sticky and eventually clumsy to actuate. That places motorcyclists at rick because it is tempting to either stop using the turn signal or become distracted by the effort it takes to turn the d**n turn-signal on and off. 

My turn signal has been gradually stiffening. What was at first an effortless push of my thumb has become a laborious task that takes 3-5 seconds and a few thumb clicks. This weekend, I fixed it. Here’s how I did it. 

Feel free to critique me unmercifully and point out any thing too over the top or maybe even absolutely wrong! I can take the teasing, but more importantly, hope to inspire some of you to stop taking your motorcycle to a dealership and purchase a few tools. After all, if I can do it, anyone can. I have outlined each step in the process I used. 

Step 1: Read the owner’s manual and review CB1100 Forum Posts to become knowledgeable: I purchased the official Honda Shop Manual when I bought my motorcycle. I also searched the Forum to see if this problem was pervasive. It is, and many posts have appeared. Some folks wanted a quick fix, others wanted to take a more comprehensive approach, and a few people were well intended but in my opinion made questionable suggestions. When you sort through it all, defer to credible, known sources and look for overlap with Honda best practices. I strongly encourage you to trust the Moderators and long-term CB1100 Owners on the Forum. They are much better at giving wise advise than Google, YouTube, AI, and the like.

Step 2: When you understand the scope of the tasks, tools, and effort to complete the maintenance tasks, select a place to work: Try as best you can to have enough space to walk around the entire motorcycle. Good lighting is a have to have, not a best effort. Here is where I posted up to work:



Step 3: Setup a workbench: With the knowledge of what I needed to remove the gunk impairing the switch, I setup a workbench. As you can tell, I had to improvise a bit by using a large storage box. 

Note that I set aside space for cleaners, tools, a place to organize parts I took off the motorcycle, and a ruggedized computer I could use to access the Internet. The ruggedized part is because I tend to get things dirty when I service a motorcycle. Grown adults could use a iPhone or iPad just as easily.



Step 4: Make sure that you can see what you will be working on: Because the turn signal has screws that are the same color as the switch housing and are tucked away, I opted to use a small floor light and a flashlight:



Step 5: Protect the motorcycle while repairs are underway: The tank on my CB1100 EX is a work of art. I have applied ceramic coating to it as well. The parts around the switch are also expensive. I opted to drape the motorcycle because it would be absolutely terrible if I damaged something because I dropped a tool or scratched something while removing or installing a part:



Step 6: Review instructions for the clearer and the the lubricate: This project requires an Electrical Contact Cleaner to clean the contacts used to actuate the horn, lights, and turn signals. It also requires Dielectric Grease to coat the contacts post cleaning so that they will be protected from water, debris, and corrosion. I like the aerosol contact cleaner because it is easy to direct the cleaner into tight places. I selected Dielectric Grease with an applicator tip to make it easier to place the dielectric grease into a tight spot.



https://a.co/d/19v0kEJ
https://a.co/d/4cI3qQq

Note that the Contact Cleaner despite the Citrix scent is harsh. It is designed to loosen / melt nastiness. Wear gloves while using it to protect your skin.

Step 7: Loosen but do not remove the clutch assembly: In order to gain clean access to the turn-switch housing, it is best to loosen but not remove the clutch handle assembly.Gently turn the set screws which hold the clutch assembly to the left a few turns. When you can slide the clutch assembly, do so, moving it to the center of the motorcycle so you can easily access the turn-signal switch.

Step 8: Remove and inspect the two set screens which secure the turn-signal switch: To remove the screen on the bottom of the turn-signal switch, I had to lay on my back and shine the light upward. The screw is made of a soft metal. I was particularly careful removing it. I opted to use a screwdriver bit and not an electric drill.



The “top” set screw is accessible from the front of the motorcycle.



I inspected both screws to make sure neither were stripped. It appears someone else has removed this switch before. The screws showed some signs of wear and tear, but they did not require replacement. I placed them on my workbench after I removed them. I placed all subsequent removed parts in organized groups on the workbench. Note that I used white paper for contrast to help me keep up with the bits and pieces

---

Step 9: Disable the switch piece by piece and clean: Taking pictures as I went, I disassembled the turn signal switch, piece by piece. I organized everything on the bench with related items next to one another. I sprayed the cleaner with great enthusiasm, using a Home Depot bucket to catch the overflow. I then wiped each piece with a lent free cloth. Finally, I let it dry for an hour before I applied the Dielectric Grease.











Step 10: Apply Dielectric Grease to the Contacts: Using the applicator and a small wooden stick intended for paint touch ups, I applied a new coat of Dielectric Grease to only the contacts and not the housing. The grease protects against corrosion and dir/debris from impacting the switch actuation. If I had applied the grease everywhere, it will gather dust and debris and force me to clean the switch far more frequently. Note that I cleaned the light and horn switch, too, while I had everything taken apart:







Step 11: Test the Switches Prior to Reassembly: Before I put everything back together, I tested the switches to make sure I did not dislodge a connection or damage the switch. Life is good when it works.



[media=mp4]https://i.imgur.com/d7vvYxA.mp4[/media]

Step 12: Reassemble the switch and install it: Using the pictures I took and reference material, I reassembled the switch and re-installed it. I tested everything to ensure that there would be no surprises when I fired up the motorcycle. 



https://i.imgur.com/tnqefxu.mp4

Step 13: Check RLETs to ensure they remain pristine: I never, ever want the RLET Police Square to issue a warrant for my arrest.



Step 14: Complete final inspection: I performed a walk-around to make sure everything was right on the motorcycle and nothing was different than when I started the turn-signal cleaning project. 



Step 15: Return tools to storage and clean workbench: I am infamous for losing tools if I do not make it a point to clean and store them immediately at the end of my projects. I have purchased more 10 MM sockets than anyone else on this planet!



Please let me know if I should create other threads for base maintenance tasks. Enjoy your week.

---

2017 Honda CB1100 EX
The most sophisticated, smooth, perfectly engineered motorcycle I've ever owned. A pleasure in every way.