Harness

[mack]

Going thru my E's harness yesterday, cleaning all the connectors and repairing anything that looked suspect and while I was working on the taillight assembly I came across a couple wires that do nothing. One was green and one was brown I think. Any idea what these were for. Touring package upper cargo lights perhaps?

[crazy steve]

'Spare' left/right turn signal wires. These were there for the Euro bikes that had the signals mounted on the taillight brackets. Were also used for the factory saddlebags if you used the 'accessory' turn signal bracket that hung off the license plate mount.

[mack]

so

Thanx Steve: I can tell by the lack of response that very few would have known. BUT???? Would it still be a plug and play for a cargo carrier if i split the black and then used the green and brown for the L/R positives?Shot in the dark here.

[DiverRay]

You can use them that way. The only thing to think about is you only want ONE bulb in back, otherwise the flasher will not flash at the correct speed. Now, I think you MAY get away with using LED's in back IF you have 2 left and 2 right signal bulbs in back.
I used the spares for my rear mounted signals, and the "stock" connectors are not connected, and just in the clamp under the seat. This is on the '79 Quail Bike.

[ViperRon]

will actually run off a good frame ground I think mine is running that way but only uses signal for rear lights no running light function.

[TopCatGr58]

Thanx Steve: I can tell by the lack of response that very few would have known. BUT???? Would it still be a plug and play for a cargo carrier if i split the black and then used the green and brown for the L/R positives?Shot in the dark here.

Hey Mack,

You posted in the AM....most of US work during the day, so we don't get to PLAY until the evening! Due to the colors alone, I was going to say they were spare turn signal wires BEFORE reading Steve's reply.

If you have standard bulbs in the regular turn signals, then you should have no problems hooking up LEDs to the spare circuits, the regular bulbs should provide the LOAD needed to drive the flasher, the LED's don't really provide any real extra load to the circuit.

However, I haven't reviewed the wiring diagram so not sure how they have run the extra wires...but if they are run just off of a common "Y" type connection so that they are PARALLEL for each side...then ohms law might mess things up using an LED? 2 sources to ground via a parallel path would drop the resistance...which would also drop the LOAD....that might cause problems for the flasher?? Steve or 3Phase or others with more electrical knowledge will be able to tell how it would/could affect it. But I would think if Yamaha provided the extra connectors, that the circuit would be able to handle the extra bulbs...UNLESS they intended for only 1 to be connected at a time...either the OEM mounted ones, OR the saddle bag ones, but not necessarily both at the same time??

T.C.

[3Phase]

Sorry about that, I just got power back after it's been off all day while Edison replaced the forty-year-old power poles on our street.

Unless you have a 'Special, adding LED turn signals and running lights to the rear or anywhere else shouldn't affect the flasher if you keep the incandescent 1156 Signal bulbs but you will have to add the diode pair to keep the LEDs from lighting each other up.

customdynamics.com: Motorcycle LED Lights - FAQs

Will I need to add a Load Equalizer if I convert to LEDs?

Maybe. Your tail light/brake light is not load dependent so converting this to an LED tail light will NOT require the addition of a load equalizer. However, if you are replacing your stock turn signals with LEDs, you may need a load equalizer. If you are adding LEDs but leaving your stock turn signals you will not need a load equalizer. If you are replacing either your front or rear turn signal with LEDs you will most likely notice that your turns signal will flash faster and therefore need a load equalizer or to replace your flasher with a non-load dependent flasher.

You will not need a load equalizer if you are installing LED Accent Lights.

[...]

I have a Metric Cruiser with one turn signal indicator light in the speedometer, will that be a problem when installing LEDs?

Metric cruisers with one turn signal indicator light require the installation of a metric cruiser diode kit to prevent the indicator bulb from acting as low resistance path between left and right, resulting in both turn left and right turn signals coming on together. GEN-MDK will cure this.. For more details see diode installation instructions.

[mack]

Thanx

everyone for the tips.