My 2008 CVO Springer has a stock OEM LED rear light ( same as the one lots of guys fit to "standard" Softails !)

Saturday last on a run down the coast my mates tell me I have no tail light and no brake light ?

Parked up , I try front and rear brakes , no brakelight or tail light right enough.

80K's ride home , back at base all "3" lights working again ?

Obviously some bad connection methinks. Anyone seen this with the LED taillight before ?

Best place to start looking for the bad connection ? Probably a situation someone may have "fixed" before now ?

My own money is on the ignition switch maybe , as I've seen them corrode up real bad before now.

I'll whip that out this week and WD40 the F**k out of it , electrical lube and reassemble and see how I go

I've had Dynas before now where the whole under sidepanel fusebox what all blue copper corrosion goo

All my previous personal Harleys have had a conventional twin filament globe rear light

Understandably I have no wish to discuss the lack of taillight with PC Plod , I keep my "conversations" with them to a mimimum if I can !!

Seems to be a bit of a common problem (hopefully u can read the posts):

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=97703.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=96975.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=76802.0

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=69719.0

No real answers although this comment in the last thread seems a good idea:

I had mine tri- bar replace twice, cus the brake light flickered on, then burnt permanently until it stopped working at all. I later found out before the 3rd blew up that this was due to water ingress, so make sure you seal around the wiring harness connector under the seat.

Thanks imoo for those links

I am a member over on the US CVO forum , but thought I would ask for "Aussie" info if available.

I also have had a feeling it may be a dry/broken solder joint within the rear LED lamp cluster as mentioned in those US threads

If I do find that when I take it all apart then I'll "fix it good" and post up the results.

Any more ideas would still be most welcome folks !

Just last Saturday I removed the tri bar LED rear light from my 2008 FXSTSSE2

Took me a while to get around to it.

"The Cobbler's children are the worst shod "

Light had been "flickering" for long and weary , then stopped working either brake or taillight

The unit is not supposed to be user serviceable , but I "persisted" like a Scotsman ( I am a Scotsman FFsake !!)

Unbolt the unit with the 4 x 9/16 bolts under the fender , and the 2 Allen bolts from the rear

Loosen the 2 rear fender rail bolts ( Torx head ) and slide the whole light unit and holder/plastic bracket out to the rear

Even the number plate mount is integral to this lamp unit FFsake ! Unplug from the harness and extract the light cluster alone

Cut the outer lens cover out of it's silicone jacket and pulled out the LED's and the circuit board

Sure enough , broken joints at the female connector to the circuit board.

Soldered with fine "silver solder" wire , rebuilt with windscreen ( sorry "windshield" haha) silicone sealant

carefully reassembled with electrical clean and lube on the wires and connectors

Working all good now , you can "tap" the light unit and no "flickering"

Only labour , your time , and a wee bit of materials.

It's a $300+ light unit here in Perth Western Australia to order it from the HD dealer

Nobody can "do it yourself" as good as you can yourself! Well done laddie.