Stupid question about my blinkers

Hi, 81 xj650 here,

My left blinkers- front and rear- work fine. I hear a click and then subsequent clicks to signify that the blinker is blinking. But on my right side, I get nothing. No clicks or anything. I don't think it's burnt out bulbs because it is both front and back, not just one. Maybe it's a messed up switch or something. Any diagnoses tips would be awesome. Thanks a lot.

p.s. can you tell that I am new to bikes?

 

I'd check the bulbs first.
If thats not it someone more familiar with the wiring will give you some ideas i'm sure.
Good luck

 

Had the same problem with mine the other day. Turned out to be a connection to the rear indicators near the tail light had come out.

Seems that if the circuit is not complete then neither indicator will light up.

Check connections, particularly in an area you might have been working near.


Cheers
HG

 

Also - if the wire gets damaged and it grounds you'll get the same problem. Normally you would hear a noise, but if the engine is running and you've got ear plugs in you won't hear it.

If this is a recent change then you might be able to do what I did to find the break - it'll break where it vibrates - mine happened to be the rear stalk where it went through the stem and around the 90 degree turn up the tail section.

If you slowly go along the wire jiggling it - see if the light comes on - pay particular attention to any unions you find.

As far as I can tell - based on the fact only one wire goes the light bulb - the system works on a shortest path to ground. When you connect it to the light - the power goes through the light and out the otherside to ground to the bike. If the wire gets damaged the shortest point is where the damage allows it to touch the frame. Neither light lights as they are no were near as low a resistance as the direct ground where the wire was damaged.

In other words - what Hired_Goon said

Cheers
Woot.

 

I had a similar problem only mine worked now and then. Found out that the ground to my front left light was not making contact all the time. The short answer to what I did is that I soldered another wire to the bulb socket drilled a hole in the back of the light, ran it along the stem with zip ties and grounded it inside the headlight bucket. Looks funny but it works fine now.

Good Luck,
Bob

 

And yet another problem to look for is the actual little circuit board inside the handlebar switch. There are three wires soldered into brass eyelets so the switch makes contact with two, depending on which direction you slide the switch. My problem was intermittent on the left side, and I found the solder work broke lose on all three eyelets and the one had slid out of its hole on the circuit board. A little flux and the heat from a soldering iron has fixed it for over a year now.

 

wow...thanks guys. I didn't expect this. Thanks a lot for all your help. I'll try all of your suggestions and write back when something- or nothing- happens. Thanks again.