Turn signals

Anybody running just rear turn signals. Installed a set on my 71 have power at the flasher.but no flash any ideas are much appreciated.

The typical problem is a poor ground connection.
And if you are using the stock flasher unit, I believe it "expects" a good deal of resistance (or current?) from the other bulbs, and mis-behaves if not finding it.
I've heard that fitting LED bulbs lowers the current so much that the stock flasher won't work, so maybe it won't work unless it senses 4 bulbs? I'm guessing here...

Supposing you're using incandescent bulbs and not LEDs, I would certainly assume that one bulb is not enough to trigger the flasher unit. With indicators front and rear, that's what you find when a bulb blows. You might prove or disprove this by rigging up a second bulb wired parallel to an existing one. If that side starts flashing, you need a more sensitive flasher unit (very scientific terminology, I know ) – maybe going down the LED route would be your answer, using whatever kind of flasher unit suits. HTH.

Ludwig; where can one source the miniature flasher unit You are using?

850commando said:

Ludwig; where can one source the miniature flasher unit You are using?

Click to expand...

+1

Would that also work as a headlight modulator?

I have found that using an electronic flasher is a great upgrade. It provides a consistent flash at idle and at speed, plus the bulb lights up instantly when the switch is thrown. They work fine with incandescent bulbs and LED’s.
Mr.Rick is correct when he says to check your grounds, especially with these turn singles. They are grounded through the chrome plating on the housing, not the best method.
MkIIA also makes a good point, with the thermal flasher if there is not enough resistance the flasher will not trigger. They usually need at least 2 bulbs to work properly.
I like LED bulbs but the effort to get them to work on a positive ground system just does not seem to be worth it.
Pete

Ludwig must have posted while I was writing. That unit looks like the best idea.

ludwig said:

You need a load independant flasher unit .
I use this one :


( compare size to std flasher ..)

It can do many things , depending on position of switches .
I use is as flasher , and it switches off after 20 blinks ,
which is imo an important safety feature .

Click to expand...

Ludwig,
Will that work with a standard flasher switch by simply turning it “On” than immediately “Off” to set the timer?
Will it work with Positive earth?
Pete

Ludwig,
Thank you
Pete

Ludwig; thks

ludwig said:

All functions are described here :

https://motogadget.com/shop/en/m-stop-bremslichtsteuerung.html

Deets55 : if you turn your indicator "off" , it will stop flashing .
In case you forget to turn it off , it will cancel itself after 20 flashes .
Pete : works with positive earth .
Rvich ; headlight modulator : don't know , but if it can handle 2 x 21W bulbs , maybe ..
I have them on both my bikes ,and they work perfect .

Produced by Motogadget , Germany .
If you don't need self canceling , there are cheaper solutions :
https://motogadget.com/shop/en/m-flash-blinkrelais.html

Click to expand...

Just wondering if anyone has found a less expensive flasher solution for using non standard [LED] bulbs in the turn signal lamps?

Charlie

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor.../fl2-red-led-bulb-electronic-flasher/779/833/

Use this on my Norton and Gold Wing
Pete

I haven't tried this yet but it is another option
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...fl_title_10?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1LGDXCZMXB2CW

I have a '70 commando. It never had directionals. I added only rear directional lights. I don't like the stock norton forward directionals that are mounted on stalks off the headlight... They're ugly as hell, so I left them off. When I added the rear directional lights, the lucas flasher did NOT work. Of course I took it apart to test it. I bought another one and it didn't work either...

Long story short,..... I used an 80's dodge pickup truck 12 volt flasher in place of the lucas flasher and it has worked fine for 30 years. The other thing thats cheezy is the directional bodies are part of the grounding circuit. There's too many connections for that to be a good ground. I ran extra grounds from the grounding point on the directional fixture to a point on the bike's frame. If my directional doesn't flash, it's always either a dead bulb, or the switch contact is corroded again.