Car-style stop/turn/tail lights

[fredintoon]

Hi List,
it's been suggested that to clean up the Christmas tree look I remove the separate rear amber turn signals on my sidecar rig and convert the stop/tail lights into stop/turn/tail lights like on a car.
I have no idea how to wire that up so the side that's flashing keeps flashing when the brakes are on. Do I need a clever module or what?
Any ideas anyone, please?

[RUSH]

There are converters that will make that work for you. Look for trailer electrical supply shops.
An interesting twist to this idea would be to use clear lenses with red lights for the brakes and amber for the turn signals. Just make sure you stay legal.

[fredintoon]

Flashing red

Hi Rush & thanks,
the good ol' 6 light to 4 light trailer converter trick, right?
I can drop into NAPA and get one. Gawd, that was easy.
The interesting twist to this modification will be to use the genuine Lucas tail light that came with the sidecar for both stop & signal functions rather than sitting a non-matching generic orange signal light next to it.

[CatatonicBug]

Ok, I'm curious... Do you use the two lights on the back of the bike as signals, and ALSO two separate signals on the sidecar? Or do you have the left blinker on the bike, and the right one on the sidecar?

[fredintoon]

Lit up like a Christmas tree

Ok, I'm curious... Do you use the two lights on the back of the bike as signals, and ALSO two separate signals on the sidecar? Or do you have the left blinker on the bike, and the right one on the sidecar?

Hi 'Bug,
right now I have the stock leftside amber flashers and the stock red rear light on the bike.
I have removed the rightside front & rear flashers.
The sidecar has a red stop/tail light and separate generic amber turn signal/marker lights front & back.
If I switch, the new rear set up will have combined red turn/stop/tail lights on both the bike and the sidecar with no separate amber signals at all.
I will keep the front "as is" with the stock leftside amber flasher on the bike and the generic amber flasher/marker on the sidecar.

[rockjok]

I've currently got an incandescent lamp for a left turn signal, the stock brake light, and the stock sidecar turn/brake lamp.

I wanted to install four 4" LED truck lights, two for brake/tail and two for brake/turn. Fortunately I only temporarily wired things up for a test since the lights definitely did not function as expected. I can't recall the exact results from all the wiring combinations I tried but the lights were dim and often wouldn't flash at all without the brake on, then went nuts with the brake lights. This project is on hold for now.

I found from threads here that you do need an electronic flasher unit and only use two of the three connectors - no biggee. The main problem (I think) is that my 79SF has a single turn signal indicator which requires an adapter in the wiring for things to work right. I believe that 80 and 81 XSs have dual turn signal indicators so they may not have the same problems.

If you find a good trailer taillight converter I'd appreciate having the part information. Perhaps I can make my idea work without swapping parts and rewiring my dash from my 81 partser.

Thanks,

Rob

[fredintoon]

Hi Rob,
yeah, to work a combo stop/turn/running light on your sidecar you will need a 3 into 2 trailer light adapter. The least costly I found on line was ~$14 but what my local store has I dunno yet. About LED lamps, no way will the stock Yamaflasher work them as it needs 54 Watts load before it flashes. I suppose a modern electronic flasher will work with the LED lights' extremely low current draw. I have no experience with that. Input anyone?

[fredintoon]

- - - The main problem (I think) is that my 79SF has a single turn signal indicator which requires an adapter in the wiring for things to work right. I believe that 80 and 81 XSs have dual turn signal indicators so they may not have the same problems. - - - Rob

Hi again Rob,
my XS11SG has the same old 27Watt flasher bulbs as all the other Yamahas in our shed.
If the '80 & newer Standards have combo flasher/running lights up front that should make no difference because as far as the circuit is concerned that's two separate lamps with a shared ground.
As the bike has separate signal & brake lights it seems it will take a 3 into 2 trailer light adapter to run a combo signal/brake light no matter what.

[DiverRay]

Rob,
The '79SF had a SINGLE bulb for both the left and right turn indicator. You need to build a "Y" harness adapter with two diodes for this to work correctly. Diodes are like a one way valve for electricity. there will be an arrow pointing what way the current WILL flow. You put one diode on each leg of the "Y" with the arrow pointing to the common leg and the indicator bulb. That should solve the problem for you!
Fred, you may want to see if you can "find" a pair of the LED tail lights cheap. Try an auto or truck wrecking yard. They REALLY are bright, so the cars know when you put on the brakes!