Sticking buttons / GL1800

[rmrc51]

As you might remember, I just brought my 2005 Roadsmith Wing home last weekend. During the little time I've had to tinker with it this past week, I noticed that some of the buttons were sticking. (Fog Light switch and the cruise control switch). I sprayed tuner cleaner inside both housings which freed up both switches. Others have mentioned that I should follow this up with a shot of WD-40 as well being the the GoldWings are "supposedly" known for their various control switches sticking from time to time.

Do any of you Wing owners have a maintenance procedure you follow for your controls?

And Yes, yes, I promise, pictures will follow soon, lol.

 

[RRSCOTT]

I don't use WD-40 because it attracks dirt. I use silicone spray. Most of time I just use the tuner cleaner after washing the bike.

 

[rmrc51]

I don't use WD-40 because it attracks dirt. I use silicone spray. Most of time I just use the tuner cleaner after washing the bike.

Good point about WD-40 attracting dirt!!! That makes sense. Thanks!

And I do have silicone spray on hand. ThumbUp

 

[Konrad]

I don't use WD-40 because it attracks dirt. I use silicone spray. Most of time I just use the tuner cleaner after washing the bike.

I assume then that silicone spray does NOT attract dirt. Can you tell me why? I have frequently heard that WD-40 is for things that stick and shouldn't, while duct tape is for things that don't stick and should! ( that's probably a common aphorism.)

 

[bayoudave]

Ok, I had the same problem and tried contact cleaner but the fog lights and flasher buttons still will not work. I looked into replacing but that is close to $200 because the switches are made all in one unit. Just went out and got some silicone spray and sprayed with silicone and they work!!!! I though what the heck I am going to spray it on the glove box release that you have to spend frustrating minutes to get open and wow not it just pops right open. Wife's car had a seat belt latch that would not work now it works. I think I just found me a new tool, silicone spray.
Thanks for the tip. I love this site, keep sharing the knowledge!!!

 

[Gold Rush]

This is what the dust and dirt sticks to... "The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile, viscous oil ." Spray Silicone drys totally thus there is nothing to stick.. I have used Spray Silicone on my RVs for years. Now that is someplace that really gets nasty using WD40!!!!

Lets get back to the switches. If you have ever had that assembly apart you'll wonder how the heck anyone manages to get lube into the switch. That sucker is buried way down there! Yes I know it can be done because I've done it but I think the real long term fix is to take the switch apart and clean/lube it then put it back together. It's not brain surgery but it does take patience and a reasonable amount of skill tossed in with a good margin of luck. If that tiny spring gets loose GOOD LUCK !!!

 

[rmrc51]

So, from what I'm hearing I can definitely follow up with spraying Silicon in the switches. That's great news.

Although the Tuner Cleaner did free up the Fog Light and Cruise Control buttons, further insurance with the silicon spray being applied at this point sounds good to me. Thanks everyone! ThumbUp

 

[Konrad]

GoldRush said exactly what I need to know:

"This is what the dust and dirt sticks to... "The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile, viscous oil ." Spray Silicone drys totally thus there is nothing to stick.. "

Thanks much!

 

[Jim Smyth]

I also have a 2002 Wing that I bought last July. Just had for the second year/time my cruise switch stuck in after taking the bike out of storage last week. The contact cleaner and lubricant trick didnt do the trick this time so I disassembled the throttle halves and would have liked to get the cruise switch completely out of the housing to do it properly. But with the throttle cables attached to the upper throttle housing I couldn't figure out how to get the cables undone. So I took a few more screws out of the base bracket and pried lightly the metal plate up so I could get at the switch and get a good spray in there. I used WD-40 (I wish I would have read this thread first and used Silicone spray instead, next time) and it took a good hour to get the switch unstuck finally.

I would eventually like to do this the right way and get the actual switch out of the house and redo the grease/lubricant inside the switch area so this stops happening every year. Does anyone here know if you can actually remove the switches without removing the actual throttle cables from the upper housing? If you have to remove the cables is there an easy way to do it? I have worked on a lot of motorcycles in the past. I know you need to get the cables loose enough to turn them 90 degrees and slide that metal end out sideways. Problem I had was I couldn't get enough slack in the cable to get the cable out of the retaining hole. If I could have removed the 2 throttle cables I could have flipped the housing upside down at least to get lube in where it needed to be.

TIA, Jim

 

[lionsullivan]

WD-40 is the cure. I took mine apart and cleaned them. BIG mistake! Parts that I could not even see went flying everywhere! Got it back together though. The old stand-by WD-40 cleaned everything up and the switches are working like brand new. Well maybe not like BRAND new but great!

 

[hitime]

I also have a 2002 Wing that I bought last July. Just had for the second year/time my cruise switch stuck in after taking the bike out of storage last week. The contact cleaner and lubricant trick didnt do the trick this time so I disassembled the throttle halves and would have liked to get the cruise switch completely out of the housing to do it properly. But with the throttle cables attached to the upper throttle housing I couldn't figure out how to get the cables undone. So I took a few more screws out of the base bracket and pried lightly the metal plate up so I could get at the switch and get a good spray in there. I used WD-40 (I wish I would have read this thread first and used Silicone spray instead, next time) and it took a good hour to get the switch unstuck finally.

I would eventually like to do this the right way and get the actual switch out of the house and redo the grease/lubricant inside the switch area so this stops happening every year. Does anyone here know if you can actually remove the switches without removing the actual throttle cables from the upper housing? If you have to remove the cables is there an easy way to do it? I have worked on a lot of motorcycles in the past. I know you need to get the cables loose enough to turn them 90 degrees and slide that metal end out sideways. Problem I had was I couldn't get enough slack in the cable to get the cable out of the retaining hole. If I could have removed the 2 throttle cables I could have flipped the housing upside down at least to get lube in where it needed to be.

TIA, Jim

Jim,

I had mine apart this past weekend and got the reverse switch on the right, and the mute switch on the left out, cleaned and lubed without taking the throttle cables off. Yeah, it was a bear to get them out and back in, but I used some silicone to lube everything up inside the switch and they are smooth as silk now. After having the reverse switch stick on me when I was supposed to be the lead bike in a funeral procession made me decide it was time to dig in deep and get the job done. Mute has been stuck for over a month - which doesn't bother me, but the wife likes to have the tunes when she is riding with me.

If you haven't seen it yet, the link below will give you the broad strokes of how to do it. Let me emphasize - KEEP CONTROL OF THE SPRING!

Link: Fixing a stuck reverse switch Photo Gallery by fred harmon at pbase.com

 

[Jim Smyth]

The bottom switches I am not having issues with and they would be easy to get out. The top one with the cruise on the right grip is the one that was fighting back for me. I couldn't see how to get it out without releasing the throttle cables. I have to go into the dealership on Thursday for some warranty work and will pick the mechanic or service managers brain while I am there.

Your link was a good one for seeing how to re grease the switch. I know what a pain it can be with those springs. Thanks for the link. ThumbUp

 

[scribe5]

My flasher button stuck, but I was able to free it with a good amount of silicon spray. After that, I sprayed every switch I could find.

 

[Mick]

Just be careful that the silicon spray doesnt contain acetone for the switches.

 

[scribe5]

Just be careful that the silicon spray doesnt contain acetone for the switches.

Ha! Just ran out to the garage after seeing your message...it has propane and butane, but no acetone. Kinda like riding a rolling gas bomb