The annoying turn signals

[sedelen]

Reason I suspect the switch is this:

The control unit is electronic. Electronics are seldom intermittent, maybe they are temperature dpendant, will work when cool and fail when warm, but seldome intermittent. Usally when it fails, it is going to stay that way and never work again.

I totally agree with your diagnostic analysis, which is why mine drove me crazy. I had an almost identical problem however it was with my left blinker. Still I can't dismiss the fact that when I replaced that Turn Signal Control Unit the problem went away, and when I reinstalled the old one the problem came back. So.................... lets just hope in this case you're correct. I do believe there are relays in that unit that "hang up" "stick" or otherwise misbehave.

[koolaid_kid]

Radio Shack sells and electronic cleaner and lubricant. Should do the trick. Can't really see anything in the picture, sorry.

[robertbarr]

First, I'd really, really recommend pulling the bar control from the bike.

Don't rely on spray products; if you need to, you can use starter spray or brake cleaner to get the original lubricant (now something like earwax, or adhesive candle wax) out of there.

Just get a terry cloth and some metal polish. Chrome polish will do in a pinch. Slather some on and rub until those little copper pads are just as shiny as can be. Repeat with every contact in there, and see my comment about the horn spring.

For this application, a variable-speed Dremel with the hard buffing wheel is worth its weight in Dremel parts.

You can use a Q-tip and put a dab of lithium grease on the slider that works back & forth to make/break left and right. Also on the topside of the headlight on/off switch. Otherwise, avoid lube unless you have some actual contact spray.

[sedelen]

Steve, this is exactly what he wants anyway. If you can post a link, that would be a good thing. I was never so glad when the self-canceling "feature" broke on my GS and I could make my own decision on when to cancel.

I know some folks don't like self canceling, but I've been through it with my bike, and you often (at least I did) forget that you're driving around with your turn signal still on because you forgot to turn it off. The fact it not's real obvious to the rider in bright daylight.

[slyone]

I cleaned all the contacts, including horn button one, figured I'd just put it back together to try it...but guess what? Yea, I forgot how all that little stuff goes back together I found a 3rd spring on the seat-where'd that come from! Then I noticed a wavy washer in housing? maybe from horn? I believe the smallest spring resides under that contact which sits into the white piece and the next 1 goes in the back of it horizontally...?

I just referenced Bob's horn pics and yes, I am correct on spring placement...but what about that wavy washer?? edit-Oh I see, that goes under signal arm at pivot point

Holy crap Bob, you really went to town cleaning up that switch! and your bike looks like it never left the showroom!

[robertbarr]

Yes, the short spring applies pressure to the U-shaped hoozits that slides across the contacts. That's the one that took me a few minutes to get back into position.

The longer one centers the slider, and lives in its own little 'hollow' inside that rectangular housing.

... and you found the home of that wavy spring washer.

[slyone]

Wow what patience & dexterity one must have when reassembling these little pita's, wish I had 4 hands! Got it all back together without losing or breaking anything, that's a feat in itself. and best of all, it even still works correctly too! but it always did when just setting there, it was always as soon as you start driving and depending on it that it would fail. So the true test comes tomorrow. Geez, fixing these bugs is a pita...but at least this one was fast & free...

[sedelen]

Wow what patience & dexterity one must have when reassembling these little pita's, wish I had 4 hands! Got it all back together without losing or breaking anything, that's a feat in itself. and best of all, it even still works correctly too! but it always did when just setting there, it was always as soon as you start driving and depending on it that it would fail. So the true test comes tomorrow. Geez, fixing these bugs is a pita...but at least this one was fast & free...

Hopefully I'm wrong about the TSCU being the problem. Good Luck with that tomorrow.

[slyone]

Hopefully I'm wrong about the TSCU being the problem. Good Luck with that tomorrow.

Yea, Thanks! I figured might as well see what's up inside the switch before I start hacking wires.

[rustybronco]

We taking bets on what the problem is?

[koolaid_kid]

The nut that holds the handlebars?

[slyone]

We taking bets on what the problem is?

you know something I don't? I went for a quik ride and found it to work approx.8 out of 10xs, before it was 1 if lucky out of 10x.
Strange how it "always" works when sitting and acts up when moving..that would have to do with that speed sensor circuit..?
Clymer says disconnect b/w lead at tscu then try, if works=bad unit, if no work=bad switch. Mine didn't but after having switch apart, I don't see that as a possibilty cause sw is all mechanical..furthermore it seems the B/W wire is just a ground thruout.

Update; just went for a ride, worked everytime versus never before..so maybe the switch clean worked..I'd say so..

[robertbarr]

Update; just went for a ride, worked everytime versus never before..so maybe the switch clean worked..I'd say so..

I knew I should have bet on the problem being the switch. Drat!

Hey, congrats! When I cleaned mine, that unit was an ebay spare. I had nothing to lose if I failed. You, on the other hand...