Funny Business with turn signals

[Manfred]

and running lights.


A few years back I converted my turn signals to dual element lamps, using the low power side as running lights. All is fine. Until recently. The right side lights - front and rear - sometimes do not turn on when the bike is started. The left side is lit, the right side is dark. And the turn signal lamp on the "dash" is brightly lit, not blinking. Left turn signals and running lights work; right side counterparts do not. After a few minutes of riding, the right side lights come on and all is well.

Any bright ideas?

[SteveD]

Dirty earth?

[Manfred]

The Earth is dirty indeed!

Oh - I see you not from Kansas Ground wires for the turn signals, eh?

Is it likely that one poor ground would affect front and back at the same time? These two bulb sockets do not share a ground wire.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Manfred, I'm going to second SteveD's suggestion. Years ago I developed a mantra for myself that when really strange things are happening electrically check all of the ground connections.

Without trying to figure out how such a thing "could" happen, I'm thinking in terms of just checking. I'm thinking that by connecting a jumper wire from the base of the bulb sockets to a known good ground just might clear things up for you.

Also you would want to give some close scrutiny to the bulb sockets and the bulb ends themselves looking for corrosion, dirt, and dead ants.

And lastly, nothing would be harmed by brightening up the base of the bulbs and the blobs of solder on the bulbs that mate with the socket contacts.


Ken

[Manfred]

Thanks! I had a rear turn signal on my Yamaha 850 quick working - turned out to be "dirty earth" (I love that term!). Make sense to check the simple things first. I will check the ground on these pups this weekend. I actually have a job that keeps me occupied during the day.

[SteveD]

I actually have a job that keeps me occupied during the day.

Yeah, I find work impinges on my leisure time all too often!
A dud bulb will cause a fast blinker rate from the other globe on the same side, so there's a "connection" in function, or dysfunction.

[Motorhead]

as the non power side becomes the ground in a working system

clean an solid coctacts an connections could even the flash between left an right

a solid state flasher took care of that

[jagarra]

I would check your grounds and then check the contacts on the bulb it self. Due to vibration they can flatten out, reheating them and adding a nice dome of solder makes them good as new. I have also run into the spring behind the socket plate corroding and sticking, creating interesting problems.

gg

[montmil]

Like divorces and coffee, functioning electrical systems depend on good grounds.

[pmonk]

my turn signals developed a mind of their own on my trip to Barber Raceway Park for Vintage Days. Sometimes they worked. Sometimes very fast flashing. Sometimes wouldn't work at all. Kind of choked at the price of a Hella flasher $90. Rick at Motoraad Electric sold me a flasher (that can be used with led's) for less than half that price. Only difference is you don't use the earthen colored wire. Solved my problems.