blinkers

[Ron Moss]

This is not a real important question but one that has me puzzled. The self canceling (sp?) turn signals on my xs 1100 special only work when it is above 85' I'm not sure I understand the why of this. I trust some of you that know the bikes better than I do will enlighten me. Thanks in advance.

[MartyA]

Hardly see "above 85" around here, but my signals do all sorts of strange things sometimes. Sometimes they self cancel, sometimes thay don't, sometimes they cancel before I actually turn, sometimes they don't even blink, just light and stay there. Sometimes the left one lights, sometimes the right. I just clean all the terminals in the wiring harness to the fairing, and clean the contacts on the rear bulbs and sockets, and everything is fine for a while. Then two or three months later it starts all over again. When they don't self cancel, I just do it my "self." When they don't blink, that's when I pull over and wipe the contact points.

Sometimes the thumb switch needs a little persuasion, also.

On the 78-81, the self-canceller works on time and distance. The white/green wire comes from the speedo, for the distance part. I would check and clean all the contacts.

[skids]

Re: blinkers

The turn signal switch on the bars is supposed to be a "momentary" switch. The self canceller mechanism is built into the speedometer with a revolution counter. If the switch on the handlebars is gummed-up inside, it can make continuous contact. Try cleaning it. You really don't need to take it apart 100% if you spray enough contact cleaner in there.

Originally posted by Ron Moss
This is not a real important question but one that has me puzzled. The self canceling (sp?) turn signals on my xs 1100 special only work when it is above 85' I'm not sure I understand the why of this. I trust some of you that know the bikes better than I do will enlighten me. Thanks in advance.

[Geezer]

Re: Re: blinkers

Originally posted by skids
The turn signal switch on the bars is supposed to be a "momentary" switch. The self canceller mechanism is built into the speedometer with a revolution counter. If the switch on the handlebars is gummed-up inside, it can make continuous contact. Try cleaning it. You really don't need to take it apart 100% if you spray enough contact cleaner in there.

If you do spray contact cleaner in the switch, follow it up with a generous squirt of silicone spray lube. I've found that regular use of silicone spray lube is all that's needed to keep the switches in good working order.

Geezer