Those of you with an 83 1100E...

[earlfor]

No, its only a 7 watt increase. Not a problem.

Earl

It won't tax my electrical system too much, right?

[Anonymous]

You can't. There are two t i t s on the sides of the bulb contact that have a different configuration than the single filament bulbs. On the simgle filament bulbs the t i t s are directly opposite each other. On the dual filament bulbs the t i t s are offset. I tried to get new single filament bulbs on Saturday but the socket won't accept the single filament bulb.

Hey Jethro,

I was just thinking about this again and I wonder if your turn signal housings didn't get swapped front to back somewhere along the way? Going from memory, they are the same externally, but obviously have different sockets for the single and dual filament bulbs. Can you simply swap the entire signal housing front to back again? You really should have the running lights up front and signals only at the back, just to be like the rest of us 82-83 owners.


Mark

[Jethro]

You really should have the running lights up front and signals only at the back, just to be like the rest of us 82-83 owners.

Yeah, I wanna be just like the rest of the cool kids!

Going from memory, they are the same externally, but obviously have different sockets for the single and dual filament bulbs.

I'm going from memory too as I didn't bring the bike in to work today, but I know on my 81 the front stalks are shorter and have some sort of strange boot near the headlight ears. But maybe the 83 the front and rear signals are identical in size and all? I don't know, I assume someone replaced them all at some point or another and screwed up. I just hope the wires on the dual filament units are still there. I'll get it right somehow, things like this are like a splinter to me, I can't rest easy and it bugs the crap outta me until it's all worked out!

[Jethro]

Figured it out. Both front and rear are the same signals unlike the 81. Swapped 'em and they are all set. In an effort to assist others I'll make special note that both single and dual filament signals only have two wires coming from them. It's a ground on the mount bolt that connects the running lamp element. So if anyone else is having troubles getting thier lights to work right, put a wire on the mount bolt and throw that into the mess of wires you are fiddleing with.

[earlfor]

Jethro, on the single element (rear signal type), there are two wires. One is ground and the other is 12v+. On the dual element front signals, two wires are 12v + and one is ground. The same ground wire is used for the running light and the turn signal function. Some will have a prong and two wires. The prong is ground.

Earl

Figured it out. Both front and rear are the same signals unlike the 81. Swapped 'em and they are all set. In an effort to assist others I'll make special note that both single and dual filament signals only have two wires coming from them. It's a ground on the mount bolt that connects the running lamp element. So if anyone else is having troubles getting thier lights to work right, put a wire on the mount bolt and throw that into the mess of wires you are fiddleing with.

[Jethro]

But Earl, the dual element turn signals only had 2 wires total! And it was unaltered. It needed a ground on the mounting bolt to works.

I still don't understand it, but it works.

[earlfor]

Some dual function signal lights will have three wires, two positive and one ground. Some will have two wires, both positive and a prong on the base plate which is ground. Some will have two wires leading from the light socket, both positive and a ground wire must be added to the mounting bolt. :-)

You needed a ground, you added a ground, it works. :-)

Earl

But Earl, the dual element turn signals only had 2 wires total! And it was unaltered. It needed a ground on the mounting bolt to works.

I still don't understand it, but it works.