Turn signals work only at high RPM

[motokid837]

I believe I am having some stator issues, as my battery is slowly dying every 1-200 miles, but besides that I don't know what might make my turn signals not work until I rev it up.

The battery is only about 2 months old, there was plenty enough juice to start the bike this morning but the relay would not flash until I got the bike over 4,000. I could here a click in the relay when I moved the switch back and forth, but no flashing tick or even a solid light. I checked the battery after riding maybe a hundred miles today and here are the results:

Key off: 12.5
key on: 12.4-3
idle: 12.6
at 2500: 12.6
5000: 12.6-7
key off: 12.5

Now I do see that those numbers are really low for the bike at increased RPM...but the turn signal relay should be able to tick with just the key on at 12.5volts...

 

[tkent02]

Fix your charging system, the blinkers will blink just fine.

 

[Guest]

I believe I am having some stator issues, as my battery is slowly dying every 1-200 miles, but besides that I don't know what might make my turn signals not work until I rev it up.

The battery is only about 2 months old, there was plenty enough juice to start the bike this morning but the relay would not flash until I got the bike over 4,000. I could here a click in the relay when I moved the switch back and forth, but no flashing tick or even a solid light. I checked the battery after riding maybe a hundred miles today and here are the results:

Key off: 12.5
key on: 12.4-3
idle: 12.6
at 2500: 12.6
5000: 12.6-7
key off: 12.5

Now I do see that those numbers are really low for the bike at increased RPM...but the turn signal relay should be able to tick with just the key on at 12.5volts...

Time to test everything, stator, RR, sounds like you have been bitten by the GS charging curse.

 

[tom203]

Good job reporting numbers! Now you got to go here and figure out if stator is the problem

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/storagecliff/images/stator_check.pdf

While you checking for AC voltages lead to lead as in the link, also put one meter probe on any stator lead and other probe on a good bike ground- there should be no voltage (or very little) displayed aa 4000 rpm.

 

[Steve]

As others have mentioned, your charging system is not working properly, thanks for providing the numbers.

Do the follow-up tests to determine whether it's the stator or the R/R or even just cleaning some wiring that is at fault.

If you need an R/R, the Polaris unit is highly-recommended.

If you need a stator, let me know, I have one for you that is freshly re-wound, ready to go at a price better than most retail outlets.

.

 

[Gun-Nut]

I had a similar problem. Look at all the ground connections. Found mine behind the lens. The ground screw was loose. Thought it was a bulb.

 

[motokid837]

Thanks for the responses guys, I will be getting into the electrical system soon, as far as the turn signal relay goes, I charged the battery fully, and the relay makes one click but does not blink or turn the lights on, can I work backwards from the relay and make sure I'm getting power at the relay? Where would I test that?

 

[Gold01ca]

I had a similar problem. Look at all the ground connections. Found mine behind the lens. The ground screw was loose. Thought it was a bulb.

Excellent advice right here.
Lots of electrical gremlins can be resolved by cleaning up all your ground connections.

 

[posplayr]

As others said you are not charging and it is probably the stator as there is such a minimal gain across the rpm range. But you do have enough voltage to blink if the connection were clean. Look at your bulbs and make sure they are clean. Get som Deoxit to clean connections. And as final test make sure you get close to battery voltage across the light when it is on.

 

[motokid837]

Can someone point me towards a decent write up or tutorial on cleaning up all the electrical connections? If there is such a thing here or on bikecliff, if not I will just have to learn as I go, just don't wanna miss anything.

I am also gonna check the plug that the relay plugs into to make sure I am getting 12 volts at the relay, that could be starting to go bad too

 

[posplayr]

Can someone point me towards a decent write up or tutorial on cleaning up all the electrical connections? If there is such a thing here or on bikecliff, if not I will just have to learn as I go, just don't wanna miss anything.

I am also gonna check the plug that the relay plugs into to make sure I am getting 12 volts at the relay, that could be starting to go bad too

One thing to be away of is that if there are alot of dirty connections. If you remove the plug, you will see 12V . Then you plug it in and it will drop and you will scratch your head. You have to measure volts with all connections in place.

There are plenty of instructions. Clean all connections.