replacement of square turn signals

[sherman204]

I have currently replaced on a xs1100 standard the back turn lites with the minis from dennis kirk and removed the fronts completely I had to add some current load inside the head light to get them to flash. Now I want to install the same lites on the front I removed the load and hook up the lites but I get no flash and the lights get extremely hot rapidly does anyone have some ideas what I'm dong wrong. Bob

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bob,

I just reviewed the listings on Dennis Kirk, and ALL of the inexpensive MINI turn signals were standard bulbs, not LED!!

So...IF they continuously run/burn they will get hot quickly!

Next, you had them only on the rear, and the rear on standards were turn only! Then you put them on the front. Unless you got special 3 wire signals designed with dual filament running and turn signals, then you may have wired them up to the running light wire and not the signal light wire , or even both???

To use the single wire signals, you will need to find either the dark green or chocolate brown wires on the front which are the turn signal leads! The BLUE leads are the running(hot/on all the time once bike is running). You don't want to use them UNLESS you have the special 3 wire lights! Just cap them off. You won't have running lights up front, but you won't be burning up your turn signals either!

And IF you have the blue wires with the chocolate or green wires all connected, then this may/probably is why they don't work!

Let us know how you have them wired and to what wires, or you may be able to figure it out from what Ive posted!?
T.C.

PS, since...I think...unless you did buy some $$ LED minis, that you may have still needed to put the load additions due to the low wattage draw of the mini bulbs, I didn't see any watt ratings for them? The OEM uses 27 watt turn signals each, that's 2.25 amps per bulb draw....why the flasher circuit is rated at 20 amps! So...even though the minis are incandescent type bulbs, they may still be too low wattage/amp draw to get the OEM thermal flasher to work. Putting in an electronic, or electro-mechanical type would allow the use of LED or low watt bulbs without adding extra circuit load, but you would loose the self cancelling feature!

[sherman204]

turn signals

Yes it do realize that the fronts have a running light filaments as well as turn. So you think that I might need additional load to make the turn signal relay cancel. The load that I have used must be too much because when I put it in parallel with new signals they burn dim and won't cancel. How much resistance Ohm wise should I need? Bob

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bob,

I did some more research on DK, found the recommended replacement bulb for the minis, and they are 23 watt which is very close to the 27 watt OEM bulb, so you shouldn't need the extra load, and that's probably why it's showing DIM!

HOWEVER, how did you wire up the front lights?? Did you just cap off the BLUE wire? You should have connected just the dark green OR the chocolate wires to the power wire of the mine turn signals. And are they properly grounded?

They should work just like the OEMs.

The self cancelling feature should work with either the bike rolling, cause it senses a certain amount of distance for the bike to travel before it cancels them. It's been a long time since I used one with the self cancelling feature, can't remember if it will also turn OFF after just a certain amount of time with the bike sitting still, but I think so, but not totally sure! I think I remember having to hit the turn signal if sitting at a light waiting to turn if I sat a long time? But I could be wrong....CRS you know! :P
T.C.

[sherman204]

thanks

I may have another problem I'll keep checking. Yes I have been hooking then to the brown and green wires not the blue ones. Bob

[mro]

Corroded grounds can light the turns but keep em from flashing, but the OEM flasher just might not like your new bulbs or Mr Murphy could have made an appearance and the flasher has failed.
At least there relatively inexpensive from your local auto store so if it's not the flasher would not be out a lot a bucks.


mro