Right indicators not indicating

[Guest]

Left indicators operate as expected (blinking at a reasonable speed), but the right ones stay orange constantly. I experienced this with the engine off in the normal key position.

I don't quite understand the light switch oon the righ hand side, and the manual seems to omitt info about it. It does seem to somewhat affect the function of the indicators tho(?).

Its a 1981 GS1000G.

It is quite possible Im doing something wrong. I was going to test while it running but I need a time when people aren't using the garage (incase there is smoke). Can't take it outside as its freezing.

 

[cowboyup3371]

If they are staying orange constantly then I would check out the grounds for your turn signals. And you shouldn't need to the bike actually running to test your lights - just turn the key on.

 

[Guest]

If they are staying orange constantly then I would check out the grounds for your turn signals. And you shouldn't need to the bike actually running to test your lights - just turn the key on.

Thank you, I will check the ground.

I am so used to modern cars, like the Skoda Superb has some weird behaviour if indicating with the engine not running (possibly with the "key" in the off position). I've never owned anything with wheels this old before. So I was somewhat weary of it being like intended.

 

[Redman]

The flasher operates in responce to the amount of current flowing THRU it (the amount of current going to all the bulbs goes THru the flasher). The more current the faster it flashes, since there is a heater thing in the flasher that turns off the light when the flaher heats up, it cools down and light comes back on badink badink dadink.

- If one bulb is burnt out, the other bulbs will be on but not flash. Verify that both the front and the back are on.
- If some of the bulbs are difffernt type of bulb of lower wattage (so less current) then the flasher will not flash. Verify all the bulbs are the same type.. or swap bulbs from side to side as a test.
- If system voltage is low due to charging system problems, with lower voltage is lower current, and will flash slower or not flash at all. Check battery voltage engine off, & engine at idle & engine at mid rpms. Should be lot higher at rpms.

DO you have the same problem with engine running at mid rpm??

 

[Guest]

The flasher operates in responce to the amount of current flowing THRU it (the amount of current going to all the bulbs goes THru the flasher). The more current the faster it flashes, since there is a heater thing in the flasher that turns off the light when the flaher heats up, it cools down and light comes back on badink badink dadink.

- If one bulb is burnt out, the other bulbs will be on but not flash. Verify that both the front and the back are on.
- If some of the bulbs are difffernt type of bulb of lower wattage (so less current) then the flasher will not flash. Verify all the bulbs are the same type.. or swap bulbs from side to side as a test.
- If system voltage is low due to charging system problems, with lower voltage is lower current, and will flash slower or not flash at all. Check battery voltage engine off, & engine at idle & engine at mid rpms. Should be lot higher at rpms.

DO you have the same problem with engine running at mid rpm??

I believe both bulbs were on, I can check if the bulbs are the same.

The battery is fairly low (the bike has been standing for months, its winter in Norway). It has enough to start and for lights but I havent charged it thourogly yet. Apart from me sitting on it and revving it for a bit it hasn't gotten much charge.

But Im attaching a charger (I was worried attaching it directly to the battery would be a bad idea but I think its fine, its one of the closed batteries with no maintenance) to get it full.

I have not tried to test it while running at mid RPM (4500?) but I will do that before anything else.

 

[Guest]

I attached the smart charger, and charged the battery. During charging and after charging the right indicator started indicating again. So it was probably a low voltage issue.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

For me, the turn signal indicator staying solid (not flashing) when I’d press the switch left or right, was the first clue that the charging system had a problem. The battery is there to start the bike. The stator output regulated and rectified by the RR is what keeps the bike running and signals flashing while riding. You could keep charging the battery, and that will continue to let you go short rides. Or you could fix your charging system and make it reliable. Plenty of stories and threads on this site on how exactly to to that. It’s been done over and over again. My story is linked in my sig. There are many like it.

 

[Guest]

For me, the turn signal indicator staying solid (not flashing) when I’d press the switch left or right, was the first clue that the charging system had a problem. The battery is there to start the bike. The stator output regulated and rectified by the RR is what keeps the bike running and signals flashing while riding. You could keep charging the battery, and that will continue to let you go short rides. Or you could fix your charging system and make it reliable. Plenty of stories and threads on this site on how exactly to to that. It’s been done over and over again. My story is linked in my sig. There are many like it.

The bike is in winter storage, and has not been driven for at least 6 months. It has been started at least three times in that time, but for limited time and not at high RPMs (at least not over time). The indicator staying solid happened while the engine wasn't running (I am waaay to eager to ride this bike).

I will pay attention to the voltage and do the simple charging system test when the roads stop being icy and salty. I am just charging it now with the charger because I can't really run it (if I were to guess the carberautors isn't adjusted to negative celciuss and I don't really want to run it for half an hour inside the garage). At -4c it ran awfull, at 15c it seems to be operating normally.

But if there is a problem I will absolutely fix it. But Im not sure what have been done with the charging system before. Figuring out what has been done with it is what Im doing now to entertain myself.

To be honest Im pretty bad with these technical things, but I am eager to learn.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

I’m no wiz with this stuff either. But with the help of a bunch of great people here, I got my bike charging properly. This will be my 3rd season with the same lead-acid battery, unless it craps out. Time will tell.