Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Lights and Turn Signals

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Lights and Turn Signals

    Okay, so I installed a new turn signal flasher on my GS550T today because the PO removed it for some odd reason and never replaced it. So now my turn signals work on low beam and without my headlight on. However, if I turn on the hi-beam I don't have turn signals. Is this normal or do I have something else wrong in my wiring? I can get around it by turning off the hi-beam but I wasn't sure why.

    I'm getting there with this thing.
    Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

    1981 GS550T - My First
    1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
    2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

    Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
    Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
    and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"
    Tags: None
    #2
    You have a shortage of electrical power it sounds like. If your charging system works, you should be able to rev it a bit, and they will start blinking. If your lights dim and flicker some when you rev it, you probably have a bad ground brtween the regulator and the battery, in which case reving it won't help. Blinkers like good electrical power.
    sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

    Comment

      #3
      If I had a bad ground wouldn't I also have an issue at low beam?
      Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

      1981 GS550T - My First
      1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
      2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

      Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
      Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
      and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

      Comment

        #4
        Definitely not normal. I'd suspect some cross wiring in the headlight bucket or switch control. Do you have an electrical schematic? If not check Cliff's site for one.

        I'd start by opening the bucket and see what's going on. Locate the wires for the signals ( likely green on the right side and black on the left for power with black with white tracer as the ground) and take a look at the connector to the headlight and the wires coming from it. Are any of them connected to any of the signal leads or are there any common leads? Are there any wires that may have rubbed together and become bared? Use the schematic and a circuit test light to see which leads show power.

        If nothing is apparent then the issue is likely in the switch housing (left hand control). Carefully take the housing apart (there will likely be small springs and a ball bearing or other contacts) and clean with contact cleaner or WD-40. Look for any bared wires or broken contacts.

        Sorry I can't be more specific but hopefully this will help a bit.

        Let us know what you find.

        Good luck,
        Spyug

        PS. Just read Combats reply and that could be a possibility too. Some bikes, even with good batteries and grounds won't flash if the engine is off i.e. they do seem to need lots of power. If you don't already have it you could put an extra ground lead from the R/r to the negative post of the battery and see if that helps out. How is your charging system overall?
        Last edited by Guest; 05-28-2010, 11:10 PM.

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by cowboyup3371 View Post
          If I had a bad ground wouldn't I also have an issue at low beam?
          Yes. But it might not manifest itself on low beam because you are not using as much juice. That leaves more left for the turn signals. T'm assuming that they light but do not blink. If they don't come on at all, that is something else.
          sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

          Comment

            #6
            If your battery is up to snuf the headlight and the turn signals should work at the same time.
            even at idle they should work..
            Last edited by Guest; 05-29-2010, 12:23 AM.

            Comment

              #7
              When on high beam and with the engine running about 2000 RPM or so (driving around the house at the time) they don't flash at all; on low, they flash fine.

              Battery is brand new from Apex Motorsports and pretty well charged. However, the PO told me I would have to replace the R/R but I haven't been able to do that just yet. I have read the Stator papers but still need to get the bike registered before I can do much else. I already am planning on replacing the R/R as soon as I can do the registration and have some spare money after replacing the tires and getting my jacket I'll need for riding on base.

              Thanks all and I'll open the headlight bucket to see things. I also will want to replace some connections for the turn signal wiring coming off the relay because it was bullet connections and didn't seem very well made. Looks as though I'll have some work ahead of me still on this one.
              Cowboy Up or Quit. - Run Free Lou and Rest in Peace

              1981 GS550T - My First
              1981 GS550L - My Eldest Daughter's - Now Sold
              2007 GSF1250SA Bandit - My touring bike

              Sit tall in the saddle Hold your head up high
              Keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky and live like you ain't afraid to die
              and don't be scared, just enjoy your ride - Chris Ledoux, "The Ride"

              Comment

                #8
                Clean the wires from the stator to the RR first, clean the big red connector off the R/R as well and add the ground. Don't jump straight to replacing parts. Do the stator papers tests.

                Be super careful on checking the ohms on the stator. It is easy to get a bad reading on the ohm meter by not making good contact with the connectors. I have a new GS850 Stator I don't need from that... If you do need an R/R, get a used Honda one from Duanage

                I still say its a charging problem.
                Last edited by 850 Combat; 05-29-2010, 12:55 AM.
                sigpic Too old, too many bikes, too many cars, too many things

                Comment

                Previous template Next
                Working...
                X