wire question

[oldyam80sg]

No- i did not have a multimeter on hand to check out the connections.Also can i get a hazard flasher at an auto parts store?I ordered a harness from a company in New Hampshire that should be here in 3 days.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey OldYam,

Yes, you can get a "Hazard" flasher, get the 2 prong type. Also, you might look for the Electro-mechanical or all electronic type, are usually a few bucks more than the THERMAL ones, but will work with LED's in the future! I'm assuming you DO mean the Hazard flasher for your hazard circuit, vs. the turn signals which uses a separate flasher.....but the same thing applies for that one as well, just that you'll loose your self cancelling feature when used in the turn signal circuit!
T.C.

[oldyam80sg]

Top Cat- I have turn signals on the left side but on the right side i hear a buzzing sound when i move the lever to the right .I felt the flasher closest to the fuse box and it is the one making noise.I think the self canceling flasher is a long box like one compared to the round short one.Correct?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Yam,

Yes, the OEM self cancelling type flasher is the long rectangular one. However, if you have a round one beside your fuseblock, and it's buzzing when you try to use the turn signals, then seems like a PO has already replaced the OEM one with an alternate? The flasher relay is under the seat above the battery on the frame, at least on my 81 that's where it is!

But....if you have signals to the left, but not the right, and the flasher is buzzing, then it may not be getting enough current flow thru it to work? Are both front and rear right side lights lighting during the buzzing?? The most commong problem with the flashers is the loss of a good ground for the turn signal lights themselves, either under the fender for the rear, or inside the headlight bucket for the front specials, but also the bulb socket can corrode, so I'd look at checking the grounds more because IF the flasher is working for the left, it should also work for the right!
T.C.

[oldyam80sg]

Left side lights only,right side no light.I checked the grounds and up until 2 days ago the front worked also.Flasher makes a buzzing sound when switched to right side but thats it-no light in back.Also when the front lights did work,the neutral light would flash when i pushed signal to the right.

[oldyam80sg]

I went to check the ignition switch with a multimeter that my boss loaned me because mine is at my Moms house.I guess his multimeter must be low on batteries because the numbers never changed.Anyway, i checked the rear turn signals and found out the ground was a little corroded so i sprayed them with electric cleaner and wiped the crud off and now i have the 4 way flashers working but still no individual left and right signals.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Yam,

The 4 way flasher is a separate circuit. You probably have a bad turn signal flasher? You can pull the 4-way flasher from it's connector, and plug it into the one for the turn signals, and see if they work. IF so.....then you know you need to replace the turn signal flasher.

Just spraying electrical contact cleaner on the connectors usually isn't good enough, especially when RUST and corrosion has gotten between the parts trying to make contact! But getting the 4 way flasher to work shows that the lights DO work, and are probably getting adequate ground.


If the turn signals still don't work, then you may need to explore the switch assembly in the handlebar!?
T.C.

[oldyam80sg]

After i sprayed electric cleaner i wiped down the ground with some WD-40.I didn't see any rust though.I have a spare turn signal flasher i will try tomorrow.Also TopCatGR 58 have you ever seen a headlight relay go bad and can you get them at an auto parts store.I saw them on BikeBandit(not like they carry them)-but why so expensive?