Author Topic: cb 550k bad blinkers (Read 2492 times)

noose74 · « **on:** November 24, 2008, 10:30:52 AM »

have a problem with my blinkers...the left front stays on...when i slide blinkers button to left the left rear stays on and left front then turns off...when i slide blinker button to right the right front and rear stay lit? all wires are hook up to there coresponding colors and have tried installing a new blinker relay with now help? any help???

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2008, 10:35:04 AM »

Sounds like an earth problem.

When you connected it all up, did you clean the contacts to the frame?

noose74 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2008, 10:40:50 AM »

i had the frame powder coated and ground down the section of the frame to bare metal where the plate that conects the ground on the battery conects to the frame. so it is grounded well...

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2008, 11:02:47 AM »

The indicators are individually grounded to the frame, so the battery connection is only half the circuit.

OR does your bike have green wires from each indicator as well as the coloured feed wires.

You symptoms of wierd/no flashing lead me to suspect a poor or non-existent earth.

Take a piece of wire and connect it (by hand) to the body of each indicator and touch the other end to a good earth. Does it make any difference?

TwoTired · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2008, 11:34:25 AM »

The forks aren't electrically attached to the frame (pivot bearings and grease). Therefore, you need to electrically attach the front bulb sockets to the main wire harness ground.

Since you didn't tell us what kind of indicator you put on or if they are stock, your flasher could be a problem, or the load presented to the flasher. The stock bulbs had a different watt rating than many common replacements. Wrong bulb change the flash characteristics.

Lastly, low battery voltage can also affect flasher function.

Cheers,

noose74 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2008, 11:43:11 AM »

This is what we tried with the earth, they have a green (common ground) run to each indicator so we should be ok on ground. So we have a colored feed and a green feed to each blinker. That should be signal and ground as best as I understand.
The strange part is why front left stays on but not rear left. Then no blink part on any of them. And then left goes off hen it’s in right turn mode.

i have changed the blinkers but had the same exact problem with the stock blinkers...

TwoTired · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2008, 12:08:09 PM »

The stock front blinkers are dual element. One for blinking and one for a running light (3 total connections). Theres a blue and blue white, Orange and orange/white and, of course, Green. The running light is turned off when the signal is supposed to blink. The rears are only blinking lights.

Sounds like you are using the wrong wires for front signaling.

That's how US models are wired.

Cheers,

noose74 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2008, 12:24:29 PM »

Well that would actually make sense then as to why it stays on. BUT why the other one doesn’t stay on? And why it goes out on the left when you turn it onto the right?

TwoTired · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2008, 12:40:17 PM »

Better tell us the year/model of the wire harness you have. You are using the green wires from the harness, right? Do you still have the dash indicator lamp for signaling, too? If so, where is that wired?

noose74 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2008, 12:44:50 PM »

its a 76 cb 550k. right now the indacator lights are not hook up...but when it was ( before i took the bike apart to transform it into my cafe racer) it did the same problem when the indactor lights were hook up...i also have new turn signal switch on the handle bar...

dn4911 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2008, 04:44:12 PM »

Does your blinker relay have 3 connectors? I had a similar problem, found that one of the connectors had broken off. ORdered a new one and they sent me one with only 2 tabs.

I would trouble shoot it from scratch, disconnect at the connection under the seat and put a tester on it. I agree it sounds most likely to be a ground problem.

noose74 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2008, 05:04:55 PM »

i believe it has only 2 tabs...( not 100%, id have to check tonight but i think only 2) should it have 3 prongs? do u have a part number for the 3 pronged flasher relay?

TwoTired · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2008, 05:15:14 PM »

Stock bikes in the US had 2 prongs. Euro models had 3 prong flashers to meet local legal requirements.

If you change the blinker electrical load on a US model, you may need a 3 prong electronic flasher.

Cheers,

dn4911 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2008, 05:18:52 PM »

OK, so what is the other wire there for? I have 3 wires coming in to the blinker relay. One was not hooked up, the blinker relay itself looked like there was a 3rd tab that had fallen off.
It is a 1975 K1.
Thanks for your help TT

TwoTired · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2008, 05:57:35 PM »

The main harness was common for both US AND euro bikes. So, both winkers styles would work with the stock harness. The US ones just allowed the green Frame connection to dangle in place. It wasn't needed for a two prong flasher.

noose74 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 26, 2008, 08:34:17 AM »

did some work on her last night and heres the latest...i should preface this by saying as well that when i got the bike the previous owner had taken it apart to paint the frame...

1. i needed to reverse the front blinker wires from left to right to get the lights to activate on same side front and rear. so now i dont have the problem of the left front staying on and them switching when i blink to the right. now all the lights work from side to side but dont blink...they just stay on on the left or stay on on the right...

2. is it possible to use the stock switch, an aftermarket flasher and two wire blinkers. (having tried three wires blinkers and still arrived at same result already)

3.If headlight worked when we took apart what would have made it not work upon assembly when we plugged in the same wires. the motor does not need to be on for the headlight to be on correct?

Tail light and brake light work just fine. Any relation?

TwoTired · « **Reply #16 on:** November 26, 2008, 09:31:51 AM »

Do you know what the battery voltage is?

The original flashers, and many replacements, use a bi-metallic strip to create the flashing rate. Inside, there is a metal strip that is actualy two sandwiched metals bonded to each other. Since metals expand at a different rate when heated, the metal bends when its temperature is changed, causing it to bend. The metal strip is anchored at one end and the other end has electrical contacts. Current passing through the flasher heats the strip causing it to bend and break the electrical path. When it cools, the bi-metal returns to it's previous position, and the cycle then repeats, causing a flash rate.

If the metal strip doesn't heat up enough, it doesn't cycle positions. It heats according to the power going through it. Power is current times voltage. Current is dependent on the load and the supplied voltage. Changing the turn signal load resistance, via type of bulb, can make the unit not flash. Lowering the supplied voltage to the circuit can also make the signals not flash. Batteries do not remain at full charge voltage when power is taken from them.

Many people don't wish to load balance their turn signals as Honda did, and instead spend extra money to get a three terminal electronic flasher that is not sensitive to load or supply voltage for it's flashing rate.

Cheers,

texaninseattle · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2008, 10:29:26 AM »

I had the exact same symptoms on my 78 550k and once I replaced the flasher with a generic 2 prong automotive flasher...the problem was solved

noose74 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 26, 2008, 10:49:05 AM »

hey texan,
were your blinkers stock? if not were they 2 wire or 3 wire blinkers

texaninseattle · « **Reply #19 on:** November 26, 2008, 10:58:02 AM »

my blinkers are stock...i havent looked at the actual wires on the front blinkers...my rears are 2 wire...and if i remember correctly...i too had the mysterious 3rd wire at the flasher..however it was not hooked to anything and the stock flasher was only 2 prong

dn4911 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 26, 2008, 06:58:11 PM »

OK, I had worked on my lights until both came on when the turn signal was activated. But they still didn't blink. SO I figured it was the blinker relay, especially because the relay only had 2 tabs and there were 3 wires.
Bought a new relay, but it still only had 2 tabs...LOL, so ordered another one, this time used, from Feebay for $1.40.
Well I learned here that the 3rd wire was a dummy for Euros, but still figured it was the relay.
So tried both relays tonight.
The Feebay relay did nothing, just like the old one, both lights come on but no blinking.
WIth the new relay in, there is a beep when the signal is activated, same beep I here if there is no relay connected.
Any thoughts?

TwoTired · « **Reply #21 on:** November 26, 2008, 08:04:11 PM »

Quote from: dn4911 on November 26, 2008, 06:58:11 PM

OK, I had worked on my lights until both came on when the turn signal was activated. But they still didn't blink. SO I figured it was the blinker relay, especially because the relay only had 2 tabs and there were 3 wires.
Bought a new relay, but it still only had 2 tabs...LOL, so ordered another one, this time used, from Feebay for $1.40.
Well I learned here that the 3rd wire was a dummy for Euros, but still figured it was the relay.
So tried both relays tonight.
The Feebay relay did nothing, just like the old one, both lights come on but no blinking.
WIth the new relay in, there is a beep when the signal is activated, same beep I here if there is no relay connected.
Any thoughts?

Yes, See:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=43540.msg453317#msg453317

Cheers,

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Author Topic: cb 550k bad blinkers (Read 2492 times)