turn signal/ running light conversion

[jamak]

I know I read this here somewhere, but came up with zip when I searched it just now.
I have an '80G with a Windjammer fairing, and I want to make the front and back turn signals function as running lights too. I know I need to switch to dual filament bulbs. I'm wondering if the 2 prong auto flasher unit I installed to replace the stock 3 prong will work. I'm thinking about going back to the
3, so I get my self-cancelling function back.
I've read a lot of guys going with LED's too, but that gets kinda pricey,no?
Any advice, input is appreciated. Thanks.

[natemoen]

There should be a blue wire in your headlight bucket assembly and that is the wire you would use for your front running lights. You would need to find a light socket for an 1157 bulb if you are going to stay with the incandescent lights. For the rears you could just tie into the brake light running light wire for the running lights except you would have to change the rear lenses to RED to have the rear running lights because you cannot have ambers lights constantly running in the rear. And also you would need to again find a light socket for an 1157 bulb in the rears as well. Any auto parts store should have the bulb sockets.

If you go to LED you will NO longer have self canceling signals unless you want to spend $100 for a special flasher that you would have to wire into the bike if you can find somewhere to put it.

LED can be either relatively cheap or expensive depending on how handy you are. You can go the easy way and you can get little LED panels that you can glue into the light housing that plugs right into the existing light socket for about $20 a pop. Or if you want to have a little more work to do you can spend the same $20 and get all 4 lights and then make the lights fit the housing and then solder some wires on the lights. Its more work but its much cheaper. Pretty soon I am going to change over to LED running and turn signals (trying to figure out also how to make the rears work as run/turn/brake too).

I just changed out all my dash lights to LED and it cost about $20 for all 10 bulbs.They are MUCH brighter and also do not use as much power so it will leave me more watts to use when I put some driving lights on later.

[CatatonicBug]

With my bike, the signals were not running lights in the stock formation. When I attached the Windjammer, the built-in lights in the fairing automatically became running lights AND signals. No change to bike wiring required.

The rears will take some doing, especially since you will need to swap the lenses to RED ones. You can't have amber running lights in the rear. However, it is doable. I wired my Vetter trunk to act as Brake and Running lights, and left my rear signals stock though. Just tap into the tail-light circuit for running light juice.

[crazy steve]

Red Turn Signal Lenses

Red lenses to fit the OEM turn signals are available here...

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/turn_lens.htm

... as NORS for $4 each for both the standard and the special.

'78E original owner

[jamak]

turn signal/running lights conversion

Thanks to all.
CB, I thought I had a Windjammer fairing, until I looked at Vetters website thru another link you provided elsewhere. I also was told by a dealer that i have a G model. But when I looked at your '81 brochure, the H looks just like my fairing, bags and tank. So what the hell?!
I suspect I have a Pacifico fairing at this point, but that's a guess.
Actually, Biker Phil is in the area on vaca, and we're supposed to get together. That will be huge for me, because he can probably set me straight on all this. I haven't had a chance to go to any XS rallys, so I've been doing this seat of the pants and with the help of the guys on here- who have been great to an old dog trying new tricks.
Steve, thanks on the lens tip-dirt cheap and spot on.
And Nate, I hope it's not that involved, because electrics are my worst point.
Although I'm geting better, out of necessity.
Thanks again.

[CatatonicBug]

One of the quickets ways to tell the difference between a Vetter fairing and a Pacifico is by looking at the pocket covers on either side of the handlbars. The Vetter ones were locking on the right(for most of them), and soft, snap-ons on the left. The Pacificos were both hard, locking covers with square edges/corners. You can also tell by the shape of the fairing at the base of the windshield. The Pacifico went straight across, and the Vetters had a rounded curve (to flow around the headlight).

[jamak]

turn signal/running lights conversion

Hmmm, CB. Now ya got me. I have the locking and soft covers, but the turn signals are different than yours. Mine are squared off and set in to the sides.
I don't recall seeing it on Vetter's site, but I'll check it out. As soon as I have my coffee. Thanks.

[natemoen]

not sure about this but I think there are different fairings for the standard and the specials

[jamak]

turn signal/running lights conversion

Hey CB, didn't you also make the conversion to turn signal/running/brake lights? That's my ultimate goal here. When I did it to my Electra Glide, naturally the dealer had a plug and play accessory that made it a snap-for long dollars.
My biggest concern with this mod is playing with a notorious charging system.
BTW, it appears I do have a Vetter, by your description. So maybe the fronts will be as easy as swapping bulbs. Phil is coming up Friday, so I'll let him critique my ride.
I'm thinking of swapping the cam chain adjuster for an auto-adjust too. Phil said he did it on one of his with a V-Max unit. Only problem is, now that it's an accepted cool mod, ya can't find 'em used unless you wanna pay longer bucks. It's a long tunnel....
Thanks again to all contributors.

[sam6942]

Hmmm, CB. Now ya got me. I have the locking and soft covers, but the turn signals are different than yours. Mine are squared off and set in to the sides.
I don't recall seeing it on Vetter's site, but I'll check it out. As soon as I have my coffee. Thanks.

I've got the same thing on my '79. I couldn't find it on Vetter's site either, anyone know where he put the serial numbers?

[CatatonicBug]

I've got the same thing on my '79. I couldn't find it on Vetter's site either, anyone know where he put the serial numbers?

The Serial numbers on the Vetter fairings are on the plate that the electical plug sits in. Remember that Vetter sold his company to Bell Helmets in '79 (IIRC), so even though Yamaha used Vetter fairings for these bikes for a short time, they were not designed by Craig Vetter himself. They do not show up on his website for that reason.

I did not to the conversion to running/brake/turn signals. All I did was turn the lights in my trunk into running/brake lights, just like the stock tail light. I also replaced the bulbs in the stock tail light and the trunk with LED's. I still have the regular bulbs for all the turn signals, because I like the auto-cancel feature...

[planedick]

Serial numbers

They are located on the plate that holds the plug socket for the electrical.

[justme1100]

There should be a blue wire in your headlight bucket assembly and that is the wire you would use for your front running lights. You would need to find a light socket for an 1157 bulb if you are going to stay with the incandescent lights. For the rears you could just tie into the brake light running light wire for the running lights except you would have to change the rear lenses to RED to have the rear running lights because you cannot have ambers lights constantly running in the rear. And also you would need to again find a light socket for an 1157 bulb in the rears as well. Any auto parts store should have the bulb sockets.

If you go to LED you will NO longer have self canceling signals unless you want to spend $100 for a special flasher that you would have to wire into the bike if you can find somewhere to put it.

LED can be either relatively cheap or expensive depending on how handy you are. You can go the easy way and you can get little LED panels that you can glue into the light housing that plugs right into the existing light socket for about $20 a pop. Or if you want to have a little more work to do you can spend the same $20 and get all 4 lights and then make the lights fit the housing and then solder some wires on the lights. Its more work but its much cheaper. Pretty soon I am going to change over to LED running and turn signals (trying to figure out also how to make the rears work as run/turn/brake too).

I just changed out all my dash lights to LED and it cost about $20 for all 10 bulbs.They are MUCH brighter and also do not use as much power so it will leave me more watts to use when I put some driving lights on later.

There are LED bulbs that fit right into the standard socket and are not that expensive. You can purchase them at any auto parts store. You can also get a conversion box so the lights are run/turn/brake. They are not that expensive either. JP Cycles Metric book offers a lot of this stuff too.

[CatatonicBug]

In my area, only Autozone carries ANY of the 1156/7 LED bulbs. None of the other Auto Parts stores carry any of them. Another good place is superbrightleds.com. They have a good selection, and may actually be better than the ones I found at Autozone.

[sam6942]

The Serial numbers on the Vetter fairings are on the plate that the electical plug sits in. Remember that Vetter sold his company to Bell Helmets in '79 (IIRC)..

So.. my serial number fits the range for Windjammer II, but like jamak said, the turn signals are integrated square lenses and the plate says Yamaha, not Vetter. Did he make them for Yamaha or did they copy his design?