Music Mute Switch on my 2012 Wing Won't Mute

[FRR]

Last week I loaded my Trike in Florida and brought it back to Ohio. Yesterday it got to 53 where I live so I thought I'd ride it a while. During my ride I noticed my mute switch on the handlebar won't engage. I'm guess I'm lucky it didn't stick on, but it pushes in easily but won't stay engaged. It mutes the radio when pushed in, but won't stay in. I know Honda is famous for coating those switches in thick grease that sometimes causes trouble, but that does not seem to be the issue with this. I took a hair dryer and warmed to up thinking that might help, but to no avail. The switch moves easily back and forth, in and out, but won't lock in place. I know getting into those handlebar controls can be tricky so I'm reaching out before I take that plunge.

Any good ideas out there on how to address this issue? As always, thanks to everyone who responds. That is what is great about this site.

[Gold Rush]

Last week I loaded my Trike in Florida and brought it back to Ohio. Yesterday it got to 53 where I live so I thought I'd ride it a while. During my ride I noticed my mute switch on the handlebar won't engage. I'm guess I'm lucky it didn't stick on, but it pushes in easily but won't stay engaged. It mutes the radio when pushed in, but won't stay in. I know Honda is famous for coating those switches in thick grease that sometimes causes trouble, but that does not seem to be the issue with this. I took a hair dryer and warmed to up thinking that might help, but to no avail. The switch moves easily back and forth, in and out, but won't lock in place. I know getting into those handlebar controls can be tricky so I'm reaching out before I take that plunge.

Any good ideas out there on how to address this issue? As always, thanks to everyone who responds. That is what is great about this site.

Fred, the actual switch is way back in there so getting any sort of liquid spray cleaner in to do good is hit or miss at best. If you can get just a drop of spray silicone inside the switch I'd bet it will dissolve the fish oil base grease HONDA uses. I have used spray silicone and just flooded the crap out of that area to cure sticking switch latches. Cover your plastic good (even though spray silicone isn't supposed to harm it) then pinch the silicone spray straw end as flat as you can get it. Place the flat edge in the largest gap you can find next to the button and give it as much as you think. Work the switch while you are spraying.

A friend of mine had his cruise switch fail the same way. That was maybe five years ago and has not repeated since. As I recall those switches are sort of mounted upside down to concentrate the spraying toward the top if possible.

Good Luck!!!

[Burnerboy]

Fred, the actual switch is way back in there so getting any sort of liquid spray cleaner in to do good is hit or miss at best. If you can get just a drop of spray silicone inside the switch I'd bet it will dissolve the fish oil base grease HONDA uses. I have used spray silicone and just flooded the crap out of that area to cure sticking switch latches. Cover your plastic good (even though spray silicone isn't supposed to harm it) then pinch the silicone spray straw end as flat as you can get it. Place the flat edge in the largest gap you can find next to the button and give it as much as you think. Work the switch while you are spraying.

A friend of mine had his cruise switch fail the same way. That was maybe five years ago and has not repeated since. As I recall those switches are sort of mounted upside down to concentrate the spraying toward the top if possible.

Good Luck!!!

Thank you, "Good info" here,

I usually do this after putting my beloved wing away for the winter season, in the spring! (she's away now sleeping)

Ronnie

[FRR]

Thanks Jerry for the suggestion. I sprayed the hell out of it and it started working. That is what I love about this site. Folks with a lot of experience that always ends up helping others. I talked with my tech this afternoon and told me what the parts alone would have cost plus the labor to repair it. He said I should be glad it wasn't one of the right side. Thanks again.

[Gold Rush]

Thanks Jerry for the suggestion. I sprayed the hell out of it and it started working. That is what I love about this site. Folks with a lot of experience that always ends up helping others. I talked with my tech this afternoon and told me what the parts alone would have cost plus the labor to repair it. He said I should be glad it wasn't one of the right side. Thanks again.

Remember that cruise switch I mentioned? YUP, on the RIGHT side. That is where I learned the "Flood IT" trick. First time I did a right side was on my '01 and it's a real nightmare! Honda could have put an inch more wire on each connection and made life easier but then they would not have the opportunity to charge what they do for that right side switch assembly.

Glad the flooding worked Fred!!

[GoldWingrGreg]

All GL1800s have 4 of those switches, and most have 5 ... mute, c/c on-off, reverse, 4-way, and fog lamp. They can stick in or not "grab" from lack of use. They can also mechanically work, but have poor continuity. If they're used frequently, they work well. I recommend every time a Wing is rode, when pulling it into the garage, and turning it off, to cycle each of the 5 switches. Doing so pretty much assures their long life.

Here is what I have found when a customer blindly soaks a non-working switch with lube without opening the switch assembly up, cleaning, and lubing it properly. That there is no new lube that makes it work again, but the cycling of the switch in/out as it is being sprayed that eventually made it work. Eventually the grease in the switch gets a little warmer and frees up just enough to make the switch work again. To verify, after doing all that, open up the switch assembly, remove the switch, and inspect it for any new lube.

[FRR]

Well, after reading all these suggestions I went out this morning and shot silicone spray in each of these switches. The cruise control was the only one that wouldn't turn off but only when I shot the silicone in it did finally work. I've pushed it in and out about 50 times and applied more lub. It catches about every 5 time so I just going to leave it in the "on" position. Honda makes a great bike but sure installs cheap switches.

I've only seem the inside of one of those switches once, but that think grease that Honda uses doesn't really help matters IMHO

Appreciate everyone's input.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I've only seem the inside of one of those switches once, but that think grease that Honda uses doesn't really help matters IMHO

I agree with the grease thing. These switches with the grease they use work better on the inside a more controlled environment like for a Honda Accord. I've always believed that Honda over looked the type of grease/lube they should be using when using these switches outdoors like on our Wings.