turn signal gremlins!!!

[TomRodgers]

Hey all....trying to figure out what the PO did with the turn signals.....
all original signals removed. In their place, he purchased some aftermarket signals. chrome plastic, amber lens, two wires through a hollow bolt. With some posts from an earlier thread i have resolvd that on the front signals the brown and green wire should be used. the blue wires were for running lights...upon connecting the bullet connectors to the brown and green wires and gounding the other wires, and on the rear connecting the bullets to the appropriate leads, when hitting the signal button, the flasher relay just ticks rapidly...very rapidly... and no lights come on.....anywhere... if i hook up one light at a time, they come on (including indicator on the "dash") but dont flash....any ideas??? Thanks!!!!

[fredintoon]

Hey all....trying to figure out what the PO did with the turn signals.....
all original signals removed. In their place, he purchased some aftermarket signals. chrome plastic, amber lens, two wires through a hollow bolt. With some posts from an earlier thread i have resolvd that on the front signals the brown and green wire should be used. the blue wires were for running lights...upon connecting the bullet connectors to the brown and green wires and gounding the other wires, and on the rear connecting the bullets to the appropriate leads, when hitting the signal button, the flasher relay just ticks rapidly...very rapidly... and no lights come on.....anywhere... if i hook up one light at a time, they come on (including indicator on the "dash") but dont flash....any ideas??? Thanks!!!!

Hi Tom,
The hi-speed clicking suggests you have a created a short circuit someplace.
One signal by itself don't put enough load on the flasher to work it so it just stays on.
Betcha the bulbs in the aftermarket lights don't have 27W filaments in them anyway so even with both signals hooked up and the short circuit eliminated it still won't flash.
Most likely the aftermarket lamps have dual filament 23W+8W bulbs in them.
If so, try this:-
Fronts, Hi-power filament to green or brown, lo-power filament to blue, ground the lamp stem.
Rears, Wire both filaments to green or brown, ground the lamp stem.
Wired like that the flasher sees 23+23+8 = 54Watts same as the stock 27+27 = 54 so the flasher should work and you still have the Standard's front running lights.

[TomRodgers]

Okey dokey...

So now i go get new signals. Or would an electronic flasher unit fix this. i was planning on getting LED turn signals anyway. discussion with TC has taught me that the electronic flasher is needed for the LED turn signals. this should eliminate the need for such draw with standard bulbs. now as for the short...$hit. W.T.F. each bulb on their own will light up...but not when hooked together.....thanks for the info. the PO painted over all the wires, and its possible i have the rears hooked up to the "running" lights for the rear...will check it out. Thanks!!!!!

[bikerphil]

2 prong electronic flasher should fix the load problem, although you'll lose your self-cancelling feature.

[TomRodgers]

dumb question.....where/what kind of 2 prong flasher....Autozone? Advance? just curious.

[fredintoon]

Okey dokey...
So now i go get new signals. Or would an electronic flasher unit fix this. i was planning on getting LED turn signals anyway. now as for the short...$hit. W.T.F. each bulb on their own will light up...but not when hooked together.....thanks for the info. the PO painted over all the wires, and its possible i have the rears hooked up to the "running" lights for the rear...will check it out. Thanks!!!!!

Hi Tom,
why get new signals? What you describe seems to be a wiring problem rather than bad signals.
Mr Stupid blew his signal fuse 3 times over by mistaking the black wire for the dark brown one.
By doing this I learned that an electronic flasher pulses at the same cadence as normal when shorted out.
For 3 clicks then the fuse blows.
I also learned to look real careful at wires in dark places like inside a headlight shell.
You didn't say, do those aftermarkets on your bike have dual filament bulbs in them or not?
BTW, wash the paint off the wires with acetone.

[TomRodgers]

I think they are single filament bulbs. bulbs ar about the size of a pea. I dont really like the looks of them anyways....way too small...cheaply made. i may get them working and keep them awhile. havent looked into the headlight bucket, but will do. ill double/triple check the rears in the next couple of days....(if it werent for that thing called a paycheck, i wouldnt go...)

[Crazcnuk]

For the regular lights any 2 prong will work, However if your going LED down the road you need a true electronic LED flasher. Watch out for the electro-mechanical calling itself electronic.

[TomRodgers]

so where do i find a true electronic flasher?

[Luxury]

Most auto parts stores have them - they're about 10 bucks. I just switched to LEDs and I got my electronic flasher at Advance auto. It's clear and you can see the electronics in it.