GN250 - have to push rear brake hard before brake light turns on

[It's all okay.]

Hi all. New person here.

As the title says, my GN250's brake light works, but I have to push quite hard before it comes on.

I've done some poking around and have located the screw that needs to be twisted to tighten the spring to make the light more sensitive, but it's really, really difficult to access it. Does anyone have any tricks or know of a special tool used to turn that screw?

Thanks all

[caseye]

Hi all. New person here.

As the title says, my GN250's brake light works, but I have to push quite hard before it comes on.

I've done some poking around and have located the screw that needs to be twisted to tighten the spring to make the light more sensitive, but it's really, really difficult to access it. Does anyone have any tricks or know of a special tool used to turn that screw?

Thanks all

Long nosed pliers and a can of undothefucker CRC usually does the trick.
Make sure the spring hasn't over stretched or broken off, should all work fine once adjusted.

[FJRider]

Hi all. New person here.

As the title says, my GN250's brake light works, but I have to push quite hard before it comes on.

I've done some poking around and have located the screw that needs to be twisted to tight turn that screw?

Thanks all

That is often a sign that the brake pads are at (or near) the end of their limit too.

The rear brake switch usually has two locking nuts at the bottom of the switch. loosen the top one and tighten the bottom one. This lifts the switch so it actuates the brake light sooner.
If you try to shorten the spring ... it (usually) can/will snap.

[AllanB]

And oil and tighten your bloody chain too!

Jesus every GN I see on the road I hear first due to the rusty loose chain noise.

[swbarnett]

That is often a sign that the brake pads are at (or near) the end of their limit too.

Say what? The brake light switch is connected to the brake lever. Surely worn pads would allow the lever to go further, thus making it easier to activate the light?

[swbarnett]

And oil and tighten your bloody chain too!

Jesus every GN I see on the road I hear first due to the rusty loose chain noise.

The stock chain on the GN is sooo damn cheap it stretches while you're tightening it. I actually had mine jump off the sprocket a week after tightening it. Made for a lovely rear skid.

[FJRider]

Say what? The brake light switch is connected to the brake lever. Surely worn pads would allow the lever to go further, thus making it easier to activate the light?

The brake lever can easily be adjusted to suit the rider .... so the amount of brake lever travel distance on well ridden GN's is almost irrelevant. By this time in the age/adjustment process ... the spring is probably stretched a little and will be slack after adjustment. Hence the manufacturer made the switch adjustable.

Many new riders do not know the switch IS (usually) adjustable (Or if it is even there) and try to bend the spring to suit.