Topic: 77 CB550 Turn signal not blinking at low RPM/Speed

[Ezile]

I'm sure this is something to do with the voltage being low but I don't know much about electrical systems.  What can I use as a search term to research even to help resolve this problem?

Turn Signals on the CB550 work just fine and blink normally if I am moving or have higher RPMs but if I am stopped or moving very slowly they blink once every 10 seconds and sometimes not at all.  This hadn't bothered me until the other day when I almost got rear ended because I forgot to arm signal on a left hand turn.

What system could be failing?  The battery is new (I got a nice AGM one 2 months ago) and it fires up without problems every time.

Thanks for the help!

[b52bombardier1]

My prediction is bad ground. Try adding a temporary supplemental ground wire to the base of the turn signals. If your problem resolves, you will know better what to work on.

Rick

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[flybox1]

The battery is new (I got a nice AGM one 2 months ago) and it fires up without problems every time.

This is an assumption.  It needs to be positively ruled out.
Please check your battery with a meter and report voltage measured (at the batter terminals):
bike off:
ignition switch on:
@ idle rpm :
2000rpm:
3000rpm:
4000rpm:

[strynboen]

if the battery test is go..
then bay a elektronic blink relæ..they are better and more stabil to hold the korrekt rytme 60-120 blink in a minut..often there is a vire left over..bu use this modern one..try to find a raund one..vho fits the orginal rubber holder to keep it nice looking

[jonda500]

This is what happens if you have an oem flasher with modern 21 watt bulbs. The oem bulbs were 25 watts - still a fairly slow flash but quicker than it is with 21 watt bulbs in there!
John

[Ezile]

Just finally got a chance to take measurements.

12.4V on battery
12.0V at 1200 rpm (idle)
12.4V at 2000
12.7V at 4000

Never got above 12.7V

[turboed13b]

Just finally got a chance to take measurements.

12.4V on battery
12.0V at 1200 rpm (idle)
12.4V at 2000
12.7V at 4000

Never got above 12.7V

Clean all your grounds first and check for corroded connections. You have a charging problem.

[flybox1]

Just finally got a chance to take measurements.

12.4V on battery
12.0V at 1200 rpm (idle)
12.4V at 2000
12.7V at 4000

Never got above 12.7V

Clean all your grounds first and check for corroded connections. You have a charging problem.

+1
And charge your battery.  Measure it two hrs after it comes off the charger.  Should be near 12.7-12.8v

[Ezile]

So, where are the main grounds? Apparently I'm too dumb for electrical work...

I found this list in another post, but after 45 minutes no luck in finding where they attach to anything. Do I have to massively dsassemble the bike?
1- the big black cable in the near of the engineblock and frame
2- nearby the coils
3- rear fender (came from the backlight)
4- grounding of the headlightholder

[b52bombardier1]

The wiring diagram shows where they all are. The green wire on my bike. Pretty simple.

Rick

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[mattcb350f]

I had this problem on my 750f, was the ground wire attached to the mounting bracket on the rear signal. The wire is attached with a very soft rivet which came loose over time. I tightened it up with pliers and the signal speed up.

...but yeah, low voltage and too high wattage bulbs will do it too

Matt

[jonda500]

low voltage and too low wattage bulbs will do it too

^^^fixed that.

Higher wattage bulbs will increase the blink speed.
John