Author Topic: 73 cb500 Turn signals not blinking (Read 8957 times)

dkirk · « **on:** March 19, 2013, 04:40:44 PM »

I have searched a few times and read alot but still have not figured out my problem. The turn signals light but do not blink. Replaced the flasher relay and everything is the same. I started checking grounding and chasing wires around. I am not having much luck, started looking into the wiring diagram and noticed that the ground wires for the turns signals and the dash bulbs are connected on the diagram. I know the front turns are grounded to the head light bolts but haven't checked the grounds for the rear to see if they are connected to dash. All that said the question I have is if a bulb that is burnt out would cause a grounding issue? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Pictures are great too!

Kenzo1979 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2013, 05:00:40 PM »

I though you said all the bulbs light up but don't blink? No burned out bulb then. That wouldn't happen from a burnt bulb anyway. Green is not used on the relay. Should be a 2 terminal relay - Black and Grey. That should go to headlight bucket, where there is also a grey (instrumentation turn indicator) and black (switched power). There should also be 2 greens, a sky blue, and an orange under the seat for the rear signals, and a sky blue, and orange for the front signals connecting to the sky blues and oranges in the bucket; these would be: Front, Rear, and Indicator.

Are your signals LED? If so, you need a special Relay and possibly a diode pack for the indicator. Also, on my LED setup, I had to reverse the relay black and gray to make it work properly (Don't know why, just the way it worked). If not, your problem seems to be with the relay and how it ties to the indicator and signals. Hope I hit on something here.

dkirk · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:07:36 PM »

Kenzo, the turn signal bulbs are working, but the beam light on the dash is burnt out as well as the back light bulbs for the speedo and tach. I was fairly sure that they would not make a difference if they were out. Still original bulbs, no leds. I have traced the blue, orange, grey and black wires. All seem to be connected, I will have to re-check them tomorrow.

Thanks for your help!

Kenzo1979 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:20:15 PM »

Okay. If the green spade connecter is on the relay, pull it off and make sure there is only grey and black, also try the grey and black reversal, and lastly make sure your relay is the correct type and is indeed good. Cheers.

dkirk · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:31:08 PM »

Maybe I should have said this earlier, but it is a two prong relay. I am thinking about getting a three prong and trying that as well.

IndyFour · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2013, 07:13:10 PM »

Is your battery fully charged? If voltage is too low, a regular thermal flasher often has trouble blinking. If that checks out ok, then you might go ahead and replace the dash indicator bulb just to rule that out as the issue.

If you do end up getting another flasher, I'd recommend getting the electronic type as they will flash a consistent rate regardless of battery voltage....they can be had in both two and three prong types. As kenzo stated above, the green spade connector at the flasher relay is not used with a two prong flasher....it is a ground wire.

Good luck!

Randy · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2013, 10:46:22 PM »

Before I started working on my bike for the first time..I took every connection apart and cleaned and electrical grease everyone... I X them off and found all kinds of problems...I then took the controls apart and clean them with automotive wheel acid... Its a pain in the Arsh but well worth the time..

brewsky · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2013, 03:16:58 AM »

If the 500 had a buzzer, make sure it's wire isn't connected to the turn signal circuit by mistake. Mine was, and I had the same symptoms....see here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=111662.0;nowap

2wheeltripn · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2013, 01:05:54 PM »

I just had the same problem with my 550, check the turn signal switch by slowly pushing it against the spring to the left and right position. Mine won't blink if you push it all the way, others have had this same issue.

cb550fnewb · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2013, 05:57:24 PM »

I seem to have the same issue no blinking but signals light up. It's cold here 30's guessing mines because the battery juice. One question though would this also affect the horn (i believe it is also wired through the flasher relay but not 100%)
Everything looks connected and swear they were working about two weeks ago when it was 60ish

Kenzo1979 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2013, 07:12:15 PM »

No, your horn does NOT run through your blinker relay. Charge your battery. Check for shorts.

Chachi · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:16:54 AM »

One other thing worth checking... if your rear turn signals are mounted stock on the rear grab bar... check for a grounding issue there. I had an issue with rear blinkers once on my 72 500 and I solved it there. Sometimes the turn signal mount that is welded to the grab can get bent or the two halves separated just enough for the ground to loose its connection. However since you have some lighting issues up front... you'll definitely want to sort those out too. My 'idiot light' connections are sensitive and I have to make sure I push the rubber boot holding the bulb up into the housing all the way (and the right way) for them to work. Once I get it right it usually stays. I only have the mess with it again once I remove bars or do some other type of work up there that disturbs how they are seated (such as pulling them to check for burnt bulbs).

dkirk · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2013, 06:47:45 PM »

Thanks for all the help, I am still chasing. I have a lot to check with the suggestions! No luck yet.

raymond10078 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2013, 07:20:23 PM »

Simple test to check the wiring. With the turn signal on - go to the flasher and unplug one wire - do the lights go out? If so, buy an electronic flasher. Why? I'm guessing that the flasher you have needs higher wattage bulbs to flash. Most low priced (and stock) flashers are thermal - meaning that without enough heat generated inside it, it won't flash. You say you have bulbs - but are they original wattage bulbs?

dkirk · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2013, 06:50:11 PM »

Kandrtech, thanks for the info! I haven't had much time to work on the bike this week so I am going to try this tomorrow and hopefully have an answer. Buying an electronic flasher that is not stock was my next step, and I think you have just reconfirmed that!

dkirk · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2013, 06:52:36 PM »

And I forgot to mention the bulbs are original as far as I know. 12v 3.4w if I remember correctly.

wowbagger · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2013, 07:16:38 PM »

I had this same issue on my 71 cb500. The turn signals just stayed on but would not flash. Same for both left and right. I took a wire brush to the spade connectors as they were fairly corroded. Afterwards, I could get the right side to flash once but then it just stayed on. This confirmed my suspicions that the corrosion had increased the resistance in the wires enough that it couldn't overcome the thermal flasher relay. I grabbed a $12 two prong electronic flasher relay from the parts store and replaced the thermal flasher. Now everything flashes as it should.

On a side note, I wish I had grabbed the three prong relay instead. Everything I've read says that the 3 prong relay is needed if you ever intend to run LEDs instead.

Kenzo1979 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:47:56 AM »

I'm running LED's on my 350 and my 500, and both flasher relays are 2 prong using only black and grey.

wowbagger · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2013, 05:51:50 AM »

Excellent! Good to know it works and I don't have to buy another relay. Thanks.

BenG · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2014, 01:57:01 PM »

Quote from: 2wheeltripn on March 20, 2013, 01:05:54 PM

I just had the same problem with my 550, check the turn signal switch by slowly pushing it against the spring to the left and right position. Mine won't blink if you push it all the way, others have had this same issue.

Hi all, this is my first post although I have read quite a bit.

I have this excact problem. Is there a known cure for this problem?

BenG · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2014, 05:42:00 AM »

Quote from: calj737 on July 29, 2014, 03:43:01 AM

Quote from: BenG on July 28, 2014, 01:57:01 PM
Quote from: 2wheeltripn on March 20, 2013, 01:05:54 PM
I just had the same problem with my 550, check the turn signal switch by slowly pushing it against the spring to the left and right position. Mine won't blink if you push it all the way, others have had this same issue.

Hi all, this is my first post although I have read quite a bit.

I have this excact problem. Is there a known cure for this problem?

Thats a pretty good indication that the left hand control needs to be serviced. The contacts in the switch are corroded. Carefully remove the unit from the handlebars, and separate the two halves. Locate the wires and contacts for the turn signals, and gently clean with soft brush. Use some aerosol electronics cleaner or whatever you have access to and get the switch contacts happy again. Test and reinstall.

Thanks mate, will try that and post my results here.

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Author Topic: 73 cb500 Turn signals not blinking (Read 8957 times)