Turn signals go on solid, but won't blink

[obsessiveXSive]

hello all,

So I bought my "pristine" 78' XS11 about a month ago I think in non-running mostly assembled condition. With an extra engine and wiring harness and couple recycling containers of extra parts, I'd say that 100 bucks was a pretty good deal! I had it running in a couple of days, and it runs great now that I rebuilt the carbs. The last thing stopping me from getting her loudness on public roads is the turn signals. They all turn on but will not blink. I read through all the posts I could find, but nothing shed light on this specific problem. Any help would be appreciated. I had an extra flasher unit (the metal cylender thingy) from the spare harness, so I ggave that a shot. When I put it in the left side wouldn't blink, so that one is in worse shape. I looked up the price of a new one on bike bandit, and wouldn't ya know it, it's more than I payed for the bike. So if there's anyone out there that has any suggestions thanks in advance.

[boyat68]

obsessiveXSive:

If your battery is low, voltage wise, then the bulbs will not blink. If the bulbs are the wrong kind, more than 27 watts, then they may not blink. If your Flasher Relay is bad, then the unit will not work. Charge the battery up full and check, or rev the engine while testing.

[obsessiveXSive]

Thank you for responding quickly, I will try to test them after running it for a while and while revving it. Do you know where I could get an inexpensive flasher unit if it is bad?

[DiverRay]

get a two pin Automobile flasher from the parts store. If you buy an "electronic" flasher, you can change bulbs without needing the "proper" one. This is to say put in LED replacements, and save amps for brighter headlights.
Just know you may need to put the flasher in once or twice, to get the proper two pins connected. You WILL loose the "self cancel" feature, though.

[MaximPhil]

All the above are good suggestions. Being a cheap bastard myself .... try cleaning all the contacts in the indicators wd40 or fine sandpaper if badly corroded. the wire connectors too. and charge the battery too. Simple is sometimes the answer. Oh and learn the hand signals
Phil

[devilschld]

as i have recently worked on this problem. i would recommend that you check all ur grounds. i did that by using a test light. i ran into this problem when i put hard bags on a bike that never came out with them.

[fredintoon]

- - - The last thing stopping me from getting her loudness on public roads is the turn signals. They all turn on but will not blink. I read through all the posts I could find, but nothing shed light on this specific problem. Any help would be appreciated. I had an extra flasher unit (the metal cylinder thingy) from the spare harness, so I gave that a shot. When I put it in the left side wouldn't blink, so that one is in worse shape. I looked up the price of a new one on bike bandit, and wouldn't ya know it, it's more than I payed for the bike. So if there's anyone out there that has any suggestions thanks in advance.

>
Hi obs & welcome,
you didn't say, what happens on the right side with the extra flasher in?
If the one side flashes and the other don't light up the flasher is fine and there's a grounding or switching problem.
With the original flasher where the signals light but don't flash, check the bulb wattage. The stock flasher needs two 27Watt bulbs to make it flash.
If someone has put the more easily obtainable 22Watt automotive bulbs in there those lower Wattage bulbs won't put enough load on the flasher to make it work.
As has been said, an $8 2-pin transistorized automotive flasher will work on any wattage bulbs but you lose the self-canceler. There's 2 ways the 2-pin flasher will go into the 3-socket harness receptacle. One way works and the other way don't. The 3-pin automotive flasher is all different inside so you need to use jumper wires and the self-canceler still won't work.

[obsessiveXSive]

So results...

I let her warm up last night just to make sure that any fiddling with the lights the previous night night wasn't to much drain on the battery. Then held it at 3500 and I started to get intermittent blinking (blink........blink..blink........................ bliiiiiiiiink..........blink! So with the very exciting progress I decided to finally take it out on the street since it was above 40deg. outside. It pretty much did the same thing after riding for about 5 min. So I think I am going to just blame this on bad connections, and just go through everything extra thoroughly when I am masking off for paint as soon as it warms up. Thanks again for all the help, these forums are awesome. I have used the VW forums frequently for my 4 wheel go fast machine, and this site puts them to shame when it comes to knowlegable and helpful people. So here's to warmer weather and stickier tires, I can't wait to really open it up!

[obsessiveXSive]

Oh, and I will check the wattage of all the bulbs as well to make sure they are the right ones.

[XS Jeff]

Flasher

I to just went through all this, and ended up with the 8 dollar flasher (from Canadian tire, or where ever is local for you). If your lights come on, then this will fix the problem regardless of what bulbs are in place and whether you are at idle or 6000 rmp!

If the self cancel is a big deal, I would recommend the flasher anyway, and that will get you going. 8 bucks isn't much and you could spend hours tracing everything down and get nowhere. (but you should clean all connections anyway...)

Jeff

[crazy steve]

The last thing stopping me from getting her loudness on public roads is the turn signals.

For what it's worth, in Washington state you don't legally need turn signals. Headlight, tail/brake light, horn and two mirrors you do need, but turns, no. Just looked that up to see how 'legal' my chopper project is.

And the electronic flasher is the fix. I did that on mine and I had to reverse the two wires in the plug to the flasher to make it work. And yes, the self cancel quits working.

'78E original owner