Flashers, Freaking Flashers!

[monhollenj]

I've tried about everything with these turn signals. They activate but don't flash. I've replaced the small flasher (6V I think under the seat) and there's one 12V flasher under my right side panel (I don't know if it's bad or not). I tried replacing the 12V flasher with one that Advanced Auto gave me and the signals wouldn't even turn on so I put the old flasher back on and they turn on but don't blink. I've checked the connections in the switch and they're fine. What's the deal? Is there some relay or something that is bad or could that 12V flasher (eventhough it turns my signals on) still be bad? Help please!

P.S. Even at higher RPMs it doesn't work.

[rover]

flasher

The round can inside a rubber band under the right sidecover is the flasher for the turn signals. If the 12 volt flasher you bought is a two prong, connect it in place of the original. If it don't work, use the other terminal. If not a two prong, then get one, a heavy duty one that will flash more than 2 bulbs. If they flash on one side and not the other, probably a bad bulb. With my original flasher, only one side (left) would flash. With a new 2 prong, it works just fine. The original is 3 prong, so try plugging the 2 prong one way, then the other. Good luck.

[monhollenj]

The 12V Advanced gave me was a 3 prong flasher. Do they carry the 2 prong? Why did the 3 prong (from Advanced Auto) not work at all? It was a heavy duty flasher also. The guy told me they usually go on big trucks.

[crazy steve]

The 12V Advanced gave me was a 3 prong flasher. Do they carry the 2 prong? Why did the 3 prong (from Advanced Auto) not work at all? It was a heavy duty flasher also. The guy told me they usually go on big trucks.

The Yamaha flasher is unlike anything else; the third prong is for auto-shut-off. They're actually a pretty heavy-duty unit and should last the life of the bike as long as the internal contacts are clean.

Before you give up on the OEM flasher, try unplugging the auto canceller; that will be the long square box above the battery. If the flashers work now, the canceller is bad or you have a bad connection in it's plug. Also note that sometimes the bike has to be running for them to work. Cleaning all the various connections will help with that...

[bikerphil]

Try taking the two prong flasher for the emergency flashers on your bike and plugging it into the 3 prong plug under the right side cover.

[cywelchjr]

The Yamaha flasher is unlike anything else; the third prong is for auto-shut-off. They're actually a pretty heavy-duty unit and should last the life of the bike as long as the internal contacts are clean.

Before you give up on the OEM flasher, try unplugging the auto canceller; that will be the long square box above the battery. If the flashers work now, the canceller is bad or you have a bad connection in it's plug. Also note that sometimes the bike has to be running for them to work. Cleaning all the various connections will help with that...

The auto cancel won't make it not flash, it will either make it not come on at all, or not auto cancel. Auto cancel is done by applying voltage to the third pin of the stock flasher, which is turns out does NOT actually get 12 volts into it (12 volts feeds out without a load but the load of the flasher pulls it down under 5 volts). Unplugging the auto cancel unit will certainly not hurt anything however, as it just removes any possibility of voltage being applied to the third pin and disabling the flasher and turning off the signals. As soon as I get the money to complete my prototyping I'll be able to finalize the auto cancel mod for two prong flashers, unfortunately it's not really functional yet, another couple weeks at most though and it should be finalized.

[lee_dutcher]

note also if u havent cleaned the handle bar control on the left that be the case to. that was my problem. take them appart clean really good (becarful not to do to much tugging and pulling) put back together, add bielectric grease to it, and done.

[monhollenj]

Thanks guys for all your help. Bikerphil, your idea worked. I unplugged the flasher from the emergency flashers and tried it on the main flashers and they worked fine! Brilliant work guys. It definitely saved me a lot of money. Now I have to figure out why, whomever wired this thing, seemed to have wired my front flashers straight or something. They stay on like park lights and don't blink, don't get bright or anything. I'll check the connections in the headlight to see what they did. Hopefully it won't be too hard to fix

[bikerphil]

On your model (80G), the front turn signals double as running lights and should come on with the key. They should have double filament bulbs, low for the running light and high for the turn signal. The rear signals have single filiment bulbs, signal only.

[cywelchjr]

Phil where do you get he has an 80G from? I don't see it in his post, and his profile only says 1980 XS1100 without saying which model. Yes, if it's a standard they front signals should come on steady with the key, but they should flash as well with the turn signals. If they don't, it could sell be the 4 way flasher switch. The wires on it tend to get corroded and come loose and will make lights stop working. It's a little bit involved, but not really that hard, just have to pull the switch pod apart carefully and clean the spot where the wire connected to, clean the wire end and then solder it back on. A small brash wire brush works good for the cleaning, and any cheap soldering iron will work for this job.

[bikerphil]

I thought I read 80G, must have been someone else. He says the main flashers work fine now but the front remain on which would most likely be the running lights.

[cywelchjr]

Yeah, is sounds likely to be an 80G, I just can't find it in print anywhere which is why I asked. It could be just the wrong type of bulbs in them, but until he gets back to us we won't know.

[monhollenj]

Ok fellas....It is an 80G. I think Bikerphil has helped me with a problem before, and I commend his memory on my bike model I'll check the bulbs tomorrow. Wrong bulbs could easily be the case. My connectors in the switch look good. I took it apart and cleaned a little on it yesterday. Again, I thank you for your help. It really means a lot. I'll try to get some pics up when I get my exhaust wrapped and handlebars replaced. It does sound good now. Yesterday I installed pod air filters, a stage 3 dynojet kit, and new carb intake boots. Feels good to have this thing riding smooth and fast I'll also be adding a sissy bar and installing the original gas tank once it's painted (Harley Davidson's Black Denim w/ Eggshell clear-coat). The excitement is mounting, too bad in Eastern Kentucky, it's starting to get cold and rainy. More to come tomorrow.

[monhollenj]

I just noticed mine are backwards. My rear (square signals) have double filament bulbs and connectors, but my front (round signals) have single filament bulbs and connectors. Do I need to take off my turn signals and switch them from back to front?

[rover]

flashers

They ARE backwards, AND square is from a standard, and round is from a special. You don't have what you own on your page, std or spec? Either way, yours are mixed.