Topic: 77 CB 550K Turn Signal Problem

[brandonandamyhorst]

I am new here and have  77 CB 550K and I am having issues with the turn signals.

I took the rear turn signals, fender, and handlebars off as I was working and noticed after that the turn signals no longer worked correctly.

I put everything back the way it was and they still are not working.

After reading through a bunch of forum posts, I was able to figure out that the wire from the headlight compartment goes back to the rear signals and I could test for continuity so I know the wires are good.

When I plug the rear turn signal lights back in I get nothing, although the rear tail light does work.

If I press the turn signal, the front bulb shuts off and does not flash.  It does the same regardless of which direction I turn.

I'm not sure what to try next.  Anyone have some suggestions?

[Thamuz]

Check if the bulbs are still good?  Did you clean the connectors?  Can you check the flasher module? 

[Bodi]

The front signals are also marker lights, when you switch to signal one side that marker light switches off. The rears are not marker lights - only signals (amber marker lights at the rear are not legal in most places).
What you describe suggests that your marker wiring is working, your signal wiring is not.
Get a Honda wiring diagram (owners booklet or service manual for your model) and follow the power (don't use "simplified" Haynes etc diagrams). The flasher gets power from a switched ignition power black wire.
The flasher's "flashing" gray output wire goes only to the left switchpod. Measuring voltage on that with no bulbs will read a solid 12V on most flashers - they need a load to begin flashing. If you have the "flashing" power on the gray wire at  the switch and the switch is good, there's some problem with the lamp wiring. Sometimes non-OEM signals are installed that don't use the same wiring color code. It could just be that your flasher decided to fail at a confusing time.
The front and rear signal filaments should be connected to the light blue (right) and orange (left) wires. The front marker filaments connect to the light blue/white and orange/white wires. Rear signals use single filament bulbs and don't have wires for the marker function. Originally the front signal head wires had tiny colored orange or blue plastic rings so connection was simpler, but it is pretty easy to tell which side is which. There will also be connections to the panel idiot lights.

[brandonandamyhorst]

I will charge my battery up and do some more poking and prodding.

The tail light ground is through the frame and I put them back where they were, but haven't had time to do much yet.

This is a definite learning process for sure.  Thanks for the help so far!