Turn Signals

[Tripleking]

Turn signals are the one thing with which I am unhappy on my 71 T250. When I got the bike, the right rear signal was broken. I decided to install min incandescent lights, but they would not make the flasher flash. I tried resistors, but still no joy. I installed full size aftermarket signals and they work, but the are ugly. I am looking for are low profile signals which are stylish, but use a normal size bulb. I need that kind of draw. All the full size signals I have found look too big on my little 250. I would be open to OEM signals from another bike. What I want is a short stalk and a modest and rounded lamp section. I am open to suggestions.

[tz375]

There's another solution - change the flasher can to a modern electronic unit suitable for LED indicators.

Get it from your local auto supply store for about 11 bucks rather than buying one "designed for motorcycles"

[Tripleking]

Tried that. It just clicks fast and no flash. Lights barely light when I use an LED flasher.

[tz375]

That's interesting. What is the wattage of the new bulbs and the stock ones (the ones that do work) ?

Are the new ones grounding in a similar way to the ones that work?

[jabcb]

The turn signal indicator light that's in the tach is also a problem.
It connects to the left & right turn signals.
(See wiring diagrams under the forum electrical category.)

This approach works fine for high wattage turn signals but is a problem with LEDs.
There are kits to modify the indicator light wiring so that you can use LEDs.

Take the indicator bulb out & then test your turn signal setup.
If it works correctly then you need to get the kit for the indicator wiring.

Let us know if it works OK without the indicator bulb & I'll lookup info on ordering the kit.

Also, make sure your battery is charged up because it might not flash because the voltage is too low.

[Tripleking]

The turn signal indicator light that's in the tach is also a problem.
It connects to the left & right turn signals.
(See wiring diagrams under the forum electrical category.)

This approach works fine for high wattage turn signals but is a problem with LEDs.
There are kits to modify the indicator light wiring so that you can use LEDs.

Take the indicator bulb out & then test your turn signal setup.
If it works correctly then you need to get the kit for the indicator wiring.

Let us know if it works OK without the indicator bulb & I'll lookup info on ordering the kit.

Also, make sure your battery is charged up because it might not flash because the voltage is too low.

Ah. Did not make that connection. I will try that. The large aftermarket bulbs have the similar wattage as the OEM bulbs. I know the mini lights were less. I can't remember exactly, but the ones that work are like the typical 1156 style. The bulbs that don't work are the small bulbs that fit the 21/6CP sockets. They just glow dimly. The large bulbs flash and are bright.

Battery is fully charged and in good shape. I keep it on a tender. I put it in a battery booster and that makes no differene. I haven't tried it on my GT380. I do have mini lights on my 89 Katana and they worked fine, even when the battery was old and tired and the bike was not running (battery since replaced). The situation happens when the bike is running as well.

[Coyote]

I had mini lights on my last 550 cafe. Even though they were small, they were dual element (i.e parking lights). Turn signals would not work until I wired both elements of each light into the system.. That increased the draw enough to make them work right. And man those things were bright! Not relevant to your problem though. Sorry.

[tz375]

Triple,

On the KAt did it have an idiot light for each side left and right or did it share one bulb like the GT? If there were two idiot lights, that is consistent with what Coyote and JABCB are talking about. The issue appears to be related to the common idiot light when using lower wattage bulbs.