Auto cancel signal demons

[Surly]

So I thought I'd try my signals last night and the right side works and the left side does nada, no signal, no dash light, no nuffin. I suppose the auto cancel gear is the issue.

I don't mind removing the auto cancel "feature" because I've never had it on a bike before and have no desire to try and resurrect something that appears to have been an unreliable POS from the beginning, but are there other options other than using the switch from a 78-80 GS? Those suckers are tough to come by on theBay. Has anyone wired up a later model switch from an SV or a GSXR? They don't have an on/off switch for the headlight, just high/low, but I drive with the headlight on anyway.

Anybody have any good sources on salvage yards that might have this part from a earlier GS.

On it goes... Wrenching is fun but man I want to ride, I want to ride, I want to ride....

[Ghostgs1]

I used a '77 gs750 switch, but I think about any brand can be made to work as long as the bars are 7/8". There is even a universal switch out there, maybe Dennis Kirk or similar catalog store. If find one you like the looks of, I'd go for it. Ray

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Squaredancerlynn made a good/detailed post on how to convert the wiring. I believe you do need the 750 switch though. Try a search for that thread.
If you try buying a used unit, you need one from a '78 or '79 only. Other years use a different unit. I believe the '85 and '86 Suzuki Madura also uses the identical unit but I'm not positive about that.

[RJ]

I replaced the turn signal switch on my '82 1100E with an early '90's GSXR push-to-cancel unit. As I recall (it's been a couple of years) the GSXR switch plugs right into the GS harness; the wire colors are even the same. You then unplug the auto cancel box from the harness and throw it into the nearest trash can. Real easy, and if you shop around you can get a nice switch where the lettering isn't all worn off.

[Surly]

Can't find it

Squaredancerlynn made a good/detailed post on how to convert the wiring. I believe you do need the 750 switch though. Try a search for that thread.
If you try buying a used unit, you need one from a '78 or '79 only. Other years use a different unit. I believe the '85 and '86 Suzuki Madura also uses the identical unit but I'm not positive about that.

I can't find Squaredancerlynn's post, but I found the one below from RenoBruce. I imagine they are similar?
I just finished converting my auto cancel turn sigs to manual. My black box went out, so I bought a used left hand switch from an 80 GS750 with manual cancel (got it for a dollar plus shipping on ebay) You can use any manual cancel switch from 78 through 80. The wires and plug from the "new" switch will match all of the wires and plug going to the wire harness. EXCEPT the light blue wire from the switch has no wire to plug into in the harness. Cut the light blue wire off at the plug, put a connector on it, and run new wire from it to the light blue wire on the existing flasher. The light blue wire on the flasher goes to the black box. Cut if off between the black box and flasher and butt connect it to the new wire. The orange/green wire on the other side of the flasher can be left alone. It supplies power. Then disconnect the big plug coming from the black box. Leave the small 4-pin plug connected. Cut the four wires off between the plug and black box. Connect the black to the blue/black wire and the green to the green/black wire. Remove the black box and throw it away. Done. Make sure you use a connector between the new wire and light blue wire up where the switch connects to the wire harness. That way you can unplug the connector for the switch and the connector for the light blue wire and be able to remove the switch easily if needed. I'm using aftermarket short stalks, so I also had to use a new flasher. I bought an automotive one for 3 bucks (the silver round one). I used a wire tie to tie it to the hook for the old flasher. Looks good.

Easy job. It took about 30 mins.

Want to ride, want to ride....

[SqDancerLynn1]

You must remember the turn signal system used up thru 79 it different than 80 up. On the 79 older their are actually 4 seperate circuits SO it is necessary to connect the front circuit to the rear circuit--Use the 4 prong plug cut from the old TS module for this. Later ones just disconnect the module. YOU can use almost any switch if you can do some wiring.

[West]

What's an auto-cancelling turn signal?:-D

[KEITH KRAUSE]

What's an auto-cancelling turn signal?:-D

There's a speed/distance sensor in the speedometer that tells the control unit when to shut off. Something like 500' and/or 9 seconds? I've always thought the sensor was a bad idea and it doesn't always work right. It shuts off while you're waiting to turn in an intersection...stuff like that.
Some mechanics I spoke with years ago think the sensor may have something to do with the common failure of these units. I think they just can't handle vibrations, but that's just my guess.
I disconnected my sensor simply because I'd rather shut them off when I want to. I also re-mounted my control unit with foam padding between it and the battery box. Less vibration and shock. Seems to be working fine. Knock on wood.

[renobruce]

This one would work. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/77-79...spagenameZWD1VIt looks identical to the one I put on my 78 1000. There are a few on ebay right now.

[Surly]

Waiting

I picked up a manual unit from a 79 GS750 Tuesday on eBay for $9.00. I am hoping to have it early next week.

Hopefully this will be straightforward enough that an electrical dufus like me can figure it out. Stand by!

[West]

There's a speed/distance sensor in the speedometer that tells the control unit when to shut off. Something like 500' and/or 9 seconds? I've always thought the sensor was a bad idea and it doesn't always work right. It shuts off while you're waiting to turn in an intersection...stuff like that.
Some mechanics I spoke with years ago think the sensor may have something to do with the common failure of these units. I think they just can't handle vibrations, but that's just my guess.
I disconnected my sensor simply because I'd rather shut them off when I want to. I also re-mounted my control unit with foam padding between it and the battery box. Less vibration and shock. Seems to be working fine. Knock on wood.

Thanks, Keith, but that was meant to be a joke. I apoligize for wasting your time.

I have never owned a bike with auto-cancelling turn signals other than the 'thumb mechanism'.