Turn signal help

[estrohl]

I am replacing the stock turn signals on my 87 454. How do I get a 2 wire signal to work on the 3 wire system that is on the front end of our bikes? I get them to light up but the will not blink and no longer function as running lights. any help is greatly appreciated.

[geezyrider]

You can't. The front light assemblies have 3 wires going to them. One is running lights, the other is signal light, (and the third is the ground wire. You could get the front lights to work on signals only by eliminating the running light wires. and using a two wire socket. IE: eliminate the Blue wire on both front lights.

[estrohl]

ok did that but still no blinking... now what?

[geezyrider]

Were the signal lights working before you switched out the light assemblies? On the left front light the Green wire is the signal light hot wire and the Black/yellow is the ground wire. On the right front light the gray is the signal light hot wire and the black/yellow is the ground. Also, if all lights front and rear are not hooked up with good bulbs in them why then the lights will stay on because that is the sign of an open circuit.

[regularman]

I ma betting the replacement lights don't draw enough current that the original 1157 type did. Without the current ,the signal relay won't cut off and on. It takes that type of bulb current front and rear to have enough load on the circuit to flash.

[eaglerider]

If you switched to LEDs, you will have to change the flasher unit to an electrical one, in stead of the stock "mechanical" one.

[estrohl]

They are standard bulbs. How do I get them to draw enough to make them blink?

[eaglerider]

Ok, standard bulbs....have u checked all the bulbs to see if they are all good, or checked to make sure connections are good?

[dek]

did this ever get sorted as im having the same problem

bought an 85 454ltd 3 weeks ago but hate those standard
indicators

[andrewk]

I'd try replacing the flasher first with a solid-state electronic unit.

Like Eagle said, the stock flasher is thermal- The electricity heats up a bi-metal strip, causing it to bend. This opens and closes a set of contacts, making the signal go on and off. Since there is a mechanical process going on inside, they will eventually fail. Also, they require a certain amount of load to generate enough heat so that the flasher will function.

A smaller incandescent bulb may not have the resistance of an 1157 bulb, so the flasher wouldn't work. It's possible to add a resistor in the circuit to make the flasher work, but it's much easier to replace the flasher.

Any auto parts store should be able to hook you up with a solid-state electronic flasher for about 15 bucks. Just take your old flasher in with you so you get the right pin configuration.

If a new flasher does not solve the problem, you haven't hooked up the new signals correctly, or the connections are poor.

Hope this helps,
Andrew

[dek]

ok thanks will give it a go later

[dek]

thanks andrew changed the flasher relay works great now

[andrewk]

Good to hear!