Turn Signals

Hello everyone,

Went out for a ride last night to get a feel for the bike after putting the carbs back on and all of a sudden I'm having some issues with the turn signals.

Left turn signal: No indicator light, no front or rear turn signal.
Right turn signal: Solid indicator light, solid front and rear turn signal...no flashing.

Would a bad bulb on the left side cause this? Or am I looking at relay / electrical problems?

 

Always check your bulbs first, then connections, then fuses and relays.

 

After during bulbs I'd insert "Jumper signal directly to battery to make sure its actually working".

Also if they are aftermarket bulbs with smaller than stock WATTAGE bulbs they won't work with the default flasher relay. You'd need larger wattage bulbs (if they fit w/o melting the housing) or an electronic relay which makes you lose auto cancel feature (I don't miss it).

 

I was going to change the stock signals to bullets eventually. If this turns out to be a relay or other electrical issue other than bulbs, it may be happening sooner than planned.

 

Wash the bike? Water in the relay circuit box will cause no light, or erratic lighting, or solid-light occurrences?

 

No, the bike has been in my garage. No moisture. And while I'm sure it NEEDS a good washing, I haven't. :lol:

 

Seems unlikely that BOTH bulbs went at the same time on one side, so this is my guess

open up the relay box -- it comes out from the rubber band like thingy that hangs it to the frame... it opens easily -- there are two tabs on the box sides itself -- pry slightly open (the plastic box) and hold the pins and pull gently -- the relay is an old-fashioned magnetic/resistance device and the contacts are easily dirtied -- use contact spray to thoroughly dislodge rust/debris...

 

Well, not familiar with that system yet. Is that the round doohikey that is close to the battery on the left hand side of the bike?

And just to clarify, doohikey is indeed a technical term.

 

It's NOT the round doo hickey

Its a square relay usually under the gas tank in about the middle. It SHOULD be sitting in a little mounting bracket but it may not be.

 

It is a box "hanging" to the frame by a rubber-doo-hickey square-thingy about 2" by 3" brown color with a 3-pin connector going into it which if you unhang it from the rubber thingy then gently pull the 3-pin connector you will free it from the bike -- then follow my procedure

Here is what it looks like "under there" with the tank removed in this case (see red box highlighted area on this picture):

 

Good stuff! I'll take a look when I get home.