Maxim Turn Signal Knowledge Needed

I have been riding my 1981 650 Maxim for a couple weeks now. I have not gotten ahold of an owners manual yet. I know this bike has some version of self cancelling turn signals and they do often work. Sometimes they seem to stay on too long. I suspect they are working as designed, but am not sure.

Can someone give me a quick description of how they are supposed to work? It would make it easier for me to figure out what situations I will have to cancel them manually and when I can leave it to the bike.

Or maybe its just better to get in the habit of always cancelling them manually. Probably a good habit to learn.

Thanks!

 

i cant remember how long, but they are programmed for a certain amount of "feet" or time. the canelling unit is under the seat. if you didnt want to mess with it, youll get used to just shutting them off. i have an 82 that they only run for 15 seconds, and an 80 that will stay on as long as i let them!! I rode 30 miles to work with a blinker on the other morning. i think thats why they put the little yellow light on the cluster

 

Per the book:

"To cancel the signal push the switch "in" after it has returned to the center position. If the switch (signal) is not cancelled by hand it will self cancel after the motorcycle has travelled about 10 seconds or approximately 150 meters (490 feet) which-ever is greater." Exact wording and spelling is all Yamaha's.

The self-cancelling unit's timer starts when the bike begins moving; it knows how fast/far by way of a signal from a reedswitch located in the speedometer housing, reacting to the magnetic drum in the speedo.

Primitive but elegantly complex. Be nice to your self cancelling unit; they aren't available and they're bloody expensive if you find one.

 

Thanks guys. That makes sense and matches what I am seeing. At stop lights and signs, it seems to stay on for a long time. Makes sense since 490 ft. is a long ways. On right handers where I don't stop, the 10 second rule must take over and that works out about right.
Thanks for clearing up the mystery!

 

Would make sense why my 80 stays on. I put aftermarket speedo... lol... I guess I have a canceller for sale

 

Many times the unit goes bad, too, and they just stay on til you push the button in to stop it manually. I turn mine off manually anyway, cuz it takes so long for them to turn off, otherwise. I don't like driving behind a bike that has a turnsignal on for half a mile, so why should others have to be subjected to that behind me.....

Dave FOx

 

Should only be 1/2 a mile if you're doing 180 MPH! Pretty good for an XJ.

 

It's usually just the reedswitch in the speedo housing. The unit won't start timing until it detects movement via the signal from the reedswitch; if the switch is bad it won't work.

I've come across a few bad (or even broken) reedswitches in the course of "recyling" 550/600 instrument cluster parts.

 

I pulled mine out and just cancel manually.

It was sometimes cancelling before I even got stopped at the light/sign, or it would stay on for WAY too long after the turn.

Reed switch was checked and working 100% when I got the bike.