Author Topic: 76 Honda 400-4 Turn signals  (Read 562 times)

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Offline Mackiesback

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76 Honda 400-4 Turn signals
« on: August 01, 2018, 07:38:49 AM »
The turn signals on my 400 have always been slow blinkers, speeding up with RPMs. This year the lamps just illuminate without blinking. I did a quick search and found some older threads, and I will do the test on charging, etc, but I did see references to automotive flasher units being plugged in that are all electric and not electro-magnetic from various stores like Autozone, etc. Anticipating the blank stares I will get if I walk in there cold, I wanted to ask of any of you have a part number for the flashers you bought, especially for the ones that fit in the OE flasher location? That might be less painful for the "year-make-model" crew at the local parts store.

Bike is completely stock, never had the harnesses messed with, multiple bulbs replaced with weird wattages etc. I am not thinking I have an weird wiring or wattage issues here, so I am starting simple.

Thanks!

Offline jaytee-nz

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Re: 76 Honda 400-4 Turn signals
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2018, 01:04:22 PM »
Check that all the earth wires are in good clean condition where they attach. I had similar issues on my CB500 and it was bad earths.

Offline Bodi

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Re: 76 Honda 400-4 Turn signals
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2018, 08:28:00 AM »
Tridon EP34 or equivalent will work OK. This is a 3-terminal flasher, you connect the green ground wire that hangs loose near the OEM flasher, as well as the power and load wires.
This is a "load sensing" flasher that will flash fast with LEDs, the fast flash is to alert you to a burnt out lamp with standard tungsten ones. I like the fast flash, maybe you won't.
These are available at pretty much any auto store. There are many others. Apparently a 97 Ford Cougar uses one that will work, if they can only look up year/model.

If the fast flash bugs you then special "LED flashers" are available from many online sources but rarely seen in retail stores. They will cost a lot more than auto store ones... although identical except for the load sensing stuff, they're "special" and thus worth lots more, apparently. You can also open the cheaper flasher and change a resistor to make them flash normally (slower) with LEDs. Instructions exist online.

I would avoid 2-terminal electronic flashers that connect only to the two wires for your old flasher. They have to start "off", as the voltage across them charges a wee capacitor that runs the electronics. With the low current through LEDs that can take a while, so you switch on the turn signal and nothing happens for a second or two. The three terminal ones with a ground wire power the electronics directly from the incoming power, and generally start "on": the signals come on instantly when you switch them on, then start flashing. I personally want the signals to light up as soon as I switch them on, in traffic a second or two before others find out I want to turn or change lanes could save a life (mine).

Offline Mackiesback

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Re: 76 Honda 400-4 Turn signals
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2018, 09:39:55 AM »
Tridon EP34 or equivalent will work OK. This is a 3-terminal flasher, you connect the green ground wire that hangs loose near the OEM flasher, as well as the power and load wires.
This is a "load sensing" flasher that will flash fast with LEDs, the fast flash is to alert you to a burnt out lamp with standard tungsten ones. I like the fast flash, maybe you won't.
These are available at pretty much any auto store. There are many others. Apparently a 97 Ford Cougar uses one that will work, if they can only look up year/model.

If the fast flash bugs you then special "LED flashers" are available from many online sources but rarely seen in retail stores. They will cost a lot more than auto store ones... although identical except for the load sensing stuff, they're "special" and thus worth lots more, apparently. You can also open the cheaper flasher and change a resistor to make them flash normally (slower) with LEDs. Instructions exist online.

I would avoid 2-terminal electronic flashers that connect only to the two wires for your old flasher. They have to start "off", as the voltage across them charges a wee capacitor that runs the electronics. With the low current through LEDs that can take a while, so you switch on the turn signal and nothing happens for a second or two. The three terminal ones with a ground wire power the electronics directly from the incoming power, and generally start "on": the signals come on instantly when you switch them on, then start flashing. I personally want the signals to light up as soon as I switch them on, in traffic a second or two before others find out I want to turn or change lanes could save a life (mine).

Good info. I don't have LEDs so I just tried a 2 prong generic from the parts store just now and the signals are working again. So that mystery is solved. I did find a rectangular one online yesterday so I ordered that as well, thinking I want to use the factory bracket as intended. While looking into this, I grabbed my trusty old Clymer and looked at the wiring diagram to see what my unused green wore was for. It looks like it gets used on the European models but is unused in the US models. What was the purpose of the extra green ground wire originally? Just the fast flash for a burned out bulb?