Got an indicator issue

[Monstaman]

Left hand side rear is staying on and not flicking, front left flicks fast, right hand side all work perfectly?

Any electrical demons in the crowd?, unfortunately I still wonna keep the bike so don't wonna burn it to the ground trying.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Waihou Thumper]

Try that first.
Usually when one flickers fast it is a bulb. OR like mine, when I take off one of the indicators it flicks fast.
Try taking out bulb and swapping over to eliminate or problem solve that way.
It could be a connection from behind that is just shorting thinking it isnt working.
I would take out the bulb that is constantly on, then replace that one first and go from there...
Weather is crap, spend some time in the grage and I bet you will have it fixed in no time. It doesn't sound too bad, doubt if it is cable, start at the source, bulb... Good luck..

[Padmei]

Have you done anything to the wiring? Unplugged anything? I'm thinking there's a wire switched around at the flasher unit sending an unflashered constant 12volts to the rear. The front is flashing fast because there is not enough load (ie it's missing the rear indicator) for the flasher to work properly.

I'd be very surprised if it's the bulb tho I'd love to be proved wrong

[Waihou Thumper]

Have you done anything to the wiring? Unplugged anything? I'm thinking there's a wire switched around at the flasher unit sending an unflashered constant 12volts to the rear. The front is flashing fast because there is not enough load (ie it's missing the rear indicator) for the flasher to work properly.

I'd be very surprised if it's the bulb tho I'd love to be proved wrong

No wonder I didn't become a sparkie....Yeah, bulb works, so it might not be that, but I did think it could be the brass or copper bit behind or something...I was close. Bet you are right...

[Monstaman]

Nothing changed or altered, everything plugged in as should be, will head out after watching Tony on the 3 weather .. only wonna see Tony

Clean do the bulb changes and clean stuff up, cheers gents.

[Monstaman]

Ok, so Tony looked good but I think she has a cold

..back to the bike, so I put the RH indicator in the left hand socket and it did the same thing.

I disconnected the indicator relay and the light still runs solid so it must be the indicator unit itself, does anyone know where the unit is and if it is a double unit or two separate ones?.

I have looked on the wiring diagram but have to fess I am not sharp on that stuff.

Cheers Andi

[Padmei]

Indicators are really weird things. I once wired a beeper to my indicators to let me know they were turned on. Wired it in parallel to the dash lite. Would only work when RHS indicators were on - until I swapped polarity of the beeper when it would only work on the LHS. Seems the indicator flasher unit swapped polarity thru the handlebar switch. Couldn't even hear the thing with my helmet on- pedestrians could tho

The trouble I find with bike relays is that everything looks the same. Big bright labels would help a great deal.

I liked Toni's outfit last nite. Always very flattering. Can catch her again on TV3 repeat channel

[CrazyFrog]

Could be simple as wrong wattage bulb. Check both sides are the same bulbs. I had this problem with my old XT600 when I put aftermarket indicators on.

[cooneyr]

...I disconnected the indicator relay and the light still runs solid so it must be the indicator unit itself, does anyone know where the unit is and if it is a double unit or two separate ones?....

The flasher unit is under the seat behind the battery on thye RHS. Little black box that has its plugs on the LHS (relative to the bike when mounted in position). The unit is dependent on having the correct load i.e. wattage of bulb. I change my indicators and had to go get a different non load sensitive one from Repco ($12 or something). It is strange that the rear LHS inicitator is on constantly and the front RHS indicator is flashing fast. It is almost like the rear is not part of the flasher system but is shorting somewhere. Does the rear RHS one turn on and off with the switch or is it on all the time?

Cheers R

[davebullet]

Switch the flasher unit feed between left and right hand. If the problem switches bulbs - your flasher is faulty. If it stays the same side - you have awiring or bulb issue from the flasher unit up.

PS: Toni is loverly isn't she!

[Monstaman]

K, if I switch the rear left indicator and rear right indicator into the opposite plugs on the loom then the problem transfers from the left to the right.

So I then put it back to the correct way it should be.

If I unplug the flasher unit no indicators work (which is cool) but the left rear remains lit up.

So from my power of electrical deduction there is an issue on the left hand side feed or earth somehow, is it possible something could be wrong in the handlebar control?? although the front left flashes quickly thus it wants to work.

Must be something wrong on the left hand side wiring, all bulbs are the same, 12 v 21 w.

Poo .. how to find a problem, at least with lucas wiring there was no metal in the wires ... just smoke and when you had a short and the plastic failed the smoke would come out!! ... easy to find

[Monstaman]

When I got the bike none of the road legal stuff was on it so I plugged it all in, turns out that someone that looks like me plugged the indicator into the numberplate light socket (which is the same) fitting ... hence my electrical ability.

We traced back through the wiring diagram to find this, so we then looked long and hard for the hidden connector, we did find it tucked hard in behind the regulator ad wiring so not visable unless we pulled everything out of teh way.

In short it is all sweet now, thanks for your help gents and sorry for wasting your time.

[JMemonic]

Sounds a little like you have something earthing through that bulb, a cheap multi meter could be a handy tool for you right now, or simply a test light, if the bike had none of the right bits on it them it could be a case of damaged wire you cant see.

Might take a little time to track down but it will be a good learning curve, for now try taking out the stop/tail light plugs and see if you still have the issue, if so follow them back, I would almost bet its a short to the tail light.

[Padmei]

OK now I get to tell you off Like a lot of my customers "it just started doing that" you have to tell the whole story - not just after you realise the bill is getting horrendously high because you 'forgot' to tell a few little details.

Now get out & thrash the thing

[Monstaman]

OK now I get to tell you off Like a lot of my customers "it just started doing that" you have to tell the whole story - not just after you realise the bill is getting horrendously high because you 'forgot' to tell a few little details.

Now get out & thrash the thing

I can't beleive you made me check bulbs, horns and relays when that was all it was

Ouwh well, all's well and ends well and no smoke was found, finish her off tonight and take her out to play!



BTW .. dint' Toni look sweet in that white shirt