bad flasher/turn signal unit

[UncleSpot]

Randy, one side works perfectly, the other side *will* flash on and off *if* the bike is in motion (vibrations) but will only *turn off* (not flash) and if I 'tap' on the flasher unit I can hear the relay clicking, and the light will 'flash' off and back on... then stop, light on. ...and after tapping on it again it will click, and the light will turn off and flash back on - then stay on... the unit is over 24 years old, the bike has >40k miles on it, the flasher's worn out.

I've had Harleys and BWMs from the 1950s, but they didn't have turn signals... and my 1957 and 1961 trucks have a more 'basic' electrical system... so this is a 'modern' system that I'm constantly learning new...

[randy]

I still say the flasher's not worn out if it works on one side and not the other. Your problem is in the wiring beteen the flasher and the rest of the circuit.

Randy

[Winterhawk]

Mine was doing the same thing and when I replaced the flasher it fixed the problem. Only one side would flash untill you reved it up a bit. now it is fine

[ratbyk]

Intermittent Flasher

The batteries in these bikes that have to be revving for the flasher to work sound questionable to me. Possibly the battery is getting to the end of it's life or is not charging properly.
Have you checked the water level in your battery lately?
Ken/Sooke

[thumperjsa]

I agree with winterhawk. A bad flasher could be the issue. Not enough current to heat up the spring enough to flex it and then let it return. For a couple of bucks, you can pick up a 12v flasher from the auto parts store to test the issue.

[MartyA]

mine is finnicky all the time. Usually after a few miles and or a few turns the contacts clean themselves and it works fine. Try cleaning the thumb switch contacts.

[randy]

Thumper and Winterhawk, I'm confused?

You think it's a better idea to just swap the flasher with a lower current one that will work instead of fixing the real problem? That's not only poor troubleshooting, it's very short-sighted. The problem is bound to come back as those connections that are already iffy get worse with time. Good luck.

Randy

[Winterhawk]

The real problem is his flasher. I had a brand new battery in mine and all the connections are flawless. Maybe the old flasher that wouldn't work unless at higher rpm's had a little built up resistance in it or something. When I put on a other used flasher it would work perfect. A auto parts flasher will not work as the wiring is different. Just buy a used one for 10 bucks and put it on. End of problem.

[UncleSpot]

'spent 3½ hrs troubleshooting this yesterday after I closed my shop...
'took the seat, tank, and side panels off - and traced every wire from one end to the other. I did it in my shop for the better lighting, supply of test equipment/electrical hardware, and A/C (it was almost 100° outside). I used contact cleaner on every connection, and crimped connections that didn't 'feel' tight enough. After everything was checked the bike went back together and fired up...
The 'good' side still blinked correctly, and the 'bad' side STILL did NOT blink while sitting still (it just stayed on) - if the bike was vibrating; moving down the road, or the engine was revved up the blinker would shut off, come back on, blink off, etc... 'removed the side panel again, tapped on the flasher unit and 'heard a 'click' - the light went out, and 'click' came back on - and stayed on. 'tapped the unit again and heard a 'click'; the light went out, and 'click', came back on, and stayed on......... this told me the unit is not good.

all was not lost (time-wise) - 'changed the air filter, spark plugs, and adjusted the cam chain tensioner - the bike starts a LOT easier now, and feels MUCH faster

[thumperjsa]

Randy, from my experience, a 12v auto flasher is a good replacement. I know you lose the flasher cancelling side, but it is just a test. Although I don't have the experience of others here to be a great wrencher, simple troubleshooting is sometimes the best troubleshooting.

There are though two main reasons in my experience that a flasher will not work. Internal resistor not getting enough current to heat up and not getting any current at all.

The second has so many differnet tests to be done to check like bulbs, wires, grounds, switches. Why not go with the simple test first and replace the flasher. They are only a few bucks and will at least let you know if the rest of the stuff is good or bad. To me, that is good troubleshooting. Although it may not be the best way, I would rather go to the simple fixes first. Sometimes that is all the problem is.

[HawkeyeSpecial]

I am having a simialar problem on the hawkeye. I had not ridden her for a couple of months because the bolt threads in the cam tensioner stripped and i ordered a new one. After fixing the problem i noticed as i was driving down the road i notice that the turn signal was lit but not blinking. After checking things out i figured id just have to replace the flasher relay. Am I right in assumption? These things are not cheap @ $70. Where can i find a good used one? besides ebay?

Go Hawks!

[thumperjsa]

Are both the front and rear bulb staying lit on one side?

I have seen the situation of a bad bulb prevent the flasher from working but still lighting one of the bulbs.

[randy]

Hawkeye,

If the problem is only on one side, the flasher is OK. Check the wiring on the bad side. Oh, and make sure all of your bulbs are the correct wattage.

HTH

Randy