Turn signals, flashers, and hazards

[BillyRok]

I'm not knowledgeable enough to make any sense of this (probably simple) electrical issue so I'm looking for some help. The right signal on my XJ fixer upper doesn't flash -- both front and rear lights as well as the indicator on the dash just stay lit. The left signal works ok and the 4 ways all light up and flash just fine. The battery has a full charge.

Now my daily rider XJ has been parked all winter and all the lights work as they should, just checked it today, and it's been about 4 weeks since I had the battery on the charger. Thinking maybe the flasher in the fixer upper was having issues, I swapped out both flashers to the other bike. When I did that, none of the signals or flashers on either bike worked. And no, I haven't gone through and cleaned all the electrical connections yet. The 5 oz can of Gold Deoxit I ordered online just arrived. If it was a ground issue, wouldn't the flashers and left signal also not work? Here is a picture of each of the flashers in case that has something to do with it.

Flasher in fixer upper:
[IMG][/IMG]

And this is the flasher in my daily rider:
[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide me on this.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Billy,

Well, first off, generally we have found that generic 3 prong flashers do NOT work on our bikes because of the self cancelling feature. We have found that generic 2 prong flashers work, and you just have to try plugging it into the socket 1 of 2 ways that it will fit, and IF it's designed to work with a certain amount of resistance....54 watts total, then they will flash. But some thermal flashers won't necessarily work, sometimes folks will have put in slightly lesser wattage auto bulbs ie. 1156/1157 that are around 23 watts, and so they don't develope enough resistance to properly heat the THERMAL style flashers. And also folks will put on LED bulbs and so Thermal flashers definitely will not work in that situation....so this is why we suggest/recommend electronic NO LOAD type "2"/TWO prong flashers, but you will loose your self cancel feature.

I have found that the EMERGENCY 4 way flasher is only just a 2 prong to begin with. I remember working on an XJ with a broken flasher, and that the wiring for the 3 prong plug was different than the XS's, and that I had to actually physically swap the position of one of the side wires with the middle unit BEFORE a 2 prong flasher will work. Others have reported being able to use a 2 prong without swapping the wires in the plug.

SO....with your project bike with just 1 side working....you may have corrosion or damage to the actual turn signal SWITCH in the handlebar....the little reed tang can get bent so that it doesn't make contact when the switch is thrown. OR....the actual wire(s) going to the switch contact board have come unsoldered....also a common occurence....so again taking the switch apart may help you find the problem vs. swapping flashers. Can't explain why the flasher from the working bike don't work on the problem bike, but what I said above with the switch may be the cause. As to why the flashers from the project bike don't work in the otherwise working bike...don't know???

T.C.

PS I searched for your flasher on Napa, this was what I was able to find:
Napa model NF 550 but it has a different 5 digit number than yours??
30508 vs. 31909






Okay, just reviewed the XJ's wiring diagram, and yes, the ER flasher is a 2 prong. The Turn signal has 3 wires...The Brown wire is the 12V+ power from the FUSE BLOCK, the Br/White wire is the LOAD to the turn signals...it's the middle prong, the Yellow/Green is for the Self Cancel unit. The diagram of the plug is 180 degrees off in its shown position compared to the Napa one....sooooo when the XJ is rotated 180's to be in the same position as the NAPA diagram, the 12V power is on the LEFT, the Load is the middle prong, and the right is the self cancel.

This confirms what I said about having to swap the middle prong with the side one (Load) with the Power so it will match a standard 2 prong flasher!

HTH!

[MarkD]

I'm not a flasher expert, but the reason my XS's turn signal wouldn't blink on one side was due to a wire that had come unsoldered to the board in the switch , as T.C. has mentioned .

[Martini Man]

I would try earthing the indicator using a wire from the indicator's earth connector direct to the frame. It's not unknown for the earth to find a path through the wiring via the secondary bulbs that let you know an indicator is flashing. I would also check the large plastic connectors under the tank for dirt or corrosion.

[BA80]

If the lights come on then it's not a loose wire. The 3 prong flasher won't work but a 2 prong will plugged in correctly but the self cancel won't work.

If it won't flash it's usually due to low voltage or amps.

[BillyRok]

Thanks for the replies. I should have mentioned in the original post that I did take apart the switch and clean it, no loose wires. I also tried using my test light to ground the front signal right to the battery thinking that maybe the ground wasn't good, no change. Wasn't smart enough to check the back signal, too. When I did, I discovered that the rubber gasket that seals the light had a rip in it and moisture was getting in, everything was fairly corroded. Soaked it overnight in Evaporust and reassembled, now it blinks but more slowly than the left side. I searched some old threads which confirmed what TC posted, need 54 watts for flasher to work, less than that and no flash or flashes slowly. I haven't checked all the bulbs yet but the right rear is an 1141 which I think is only around 18-19 watts so I'm thinking that is also part of the problem. Checking the specs in the service manual I see this, can anybody translate what this all means?

Tail/Brake Light 8W (3cp)/27W (32cp) x 2
Flasher Light 27W (32cp) x 4

TC says the 1156 and 1157 bulbs are only 23W, what bulbs are rated 27W? Or just use the 1156 and 1157 with the 2 prong flasher?

Thanks - Billy

[crazy steve]

Go by your local Harley dealer and pick up your turn lamps there. They'll cost you a few bucks more (about $4 each the last time I bought some) but have the right wattage plus are 'heavy duty', designed to take vibration. Harley has both the dual and single filament lamps.

Motorcycle lamps are a specialty item, not the quite same as automotive.

[TopCatGr58]

Tail/Brake Light 8W (3cp)/27W (32cp) x 2
Flasher Light 27W (32cp) x 4

Steve has already told you about where to get the right bulbs. The specs you showed quoted...is saying that the dim filament of the 1157 draws only 8 watts...shines at 3 candle power, and that the bright filament draws 27 watts and shines at 32 candle power x 2 bulbs....the later model bikes have the wider tail/brake light with 2 bulbs instead of just one. From that you can figure out the turn signal specs.

T.C.