Thanks again for all your suggestions and tips, it my first month or so of Harley ownership, so all appreciated.
Couldn't wait for the weekend, took it apart tonight, and basically with my fingers I can pull out the push rod in the master cylinder by about a quarter of an inch....this , if it came back to this position, would put the lever against the stop and not have the brake light on. (if the switch worked, thats my next project!)
but the push rod just pushes back in, so I am presuming that the spring, which should push it back out is no longer fully functional...does this make sense so far?...
my local Harley shop has a cylinder repair kit....and also many on e bay etc, so considering if this is the route I need to take.