Topic: turn signal relay question

[jimbir]

'76 CB550F

I'm having problems getting my turn signals to work. The left one works ok but the right one will turn on but won't blink unless the engine is running, I look at the wiring digram for the bike and it shows three wires goint to the relay. I have three wires at the relay but it only has two connections. The black and green wires are hooked up to it and a grey wire is hanging free. The relay has the following info on it:
6919
MITSUBA
FR-2105
12V  85 ^c/_m
24Wx2+3.4W
(21Wx2+4W)
  Japan
Does this look like OEM? I'm thinking of replacing it with one from the local NAPA store. Do I need one with three wires?

Thanx, Jim B.

[nrd2052]

Are you using the OEM signals and bulbs?

[HondaMan]

The stock ones are thermal type, like the little metal can ones that are often found in cars.
These are quite voltage sensitive, and low battery volts will cause them to be erratic.
Try a solid-state flasher (3 terminal is best, use all 3 wires) for a nice, crisp flash. (Then you can also use LED bulbs!  )

3-terminal: connect the GREEN to the (-) or "G" terminal, the BLACK to the (+) terminal, and the grey to the "F" terminal (at least, on the 750s I have here, I don't have a 550 handy, but that will be close).

[nrd2052]

i had some flasher gremlins that were solved with a solid-state flasher. I had almost the same problem you are having. a trip to Advance Auto Parts and 10 bucks later, I was in business!

[beta1042]

Is this like the difference between a thermal flasher and an electrical flasher?   

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Jimbir,

Your mechanic isn't lying, the charging system on the smaller fours needs CLEAN connectors and higher revs to keep the battery happy and full of electrons.


Beta,

Yep.

[leekellerking]

That looks like it will solve my flasher problem, too.  I was leaning towards installing a solid-state unit, and you have pushed me over the line.   

Lee

The stock ones are thermal type, like the little metal can ones that are often found in cars.
These are quite voltage sensitive, and low battery volts will cause them to be erratic.
Try a solid-state flasher (3 terminal is best, use all 3 wires) for a nice, crisp flash. (Then you can also use LED bulbs!  )

3-terminal: connect the GREEN to the (-) or "G" terminal, the BLACK to the (+) terminal, and the grey to the "F" terminal (at least, on the 750s I have here, I don't have a 550 handy, but that will be close).

[HondaMan]

To nrd2052 or HondaMan

Thanx for the replys

Do either of you have a part no. for that flasher? My local wrench said that the charging systems on these models is pretty anemic and the old flashers will have problems at low RPMs.

Not really, every parts store seems to have their own number. Just look for an "electronic" 3 terminal flasher, and get the smallest one you can find (some are pretty big, like "heavy duty", don't need those).

[HondaMan]

Is this like the difference between a thermal flasher and an electrical flasher?   

Yep, the 2 types are thermal or electronic. Thermal ones stop flashing if the load is too light, like if you have a burned-out bulb on a typical car. The electronic ones always flash at the same rate, regardless of how many bulbs are (or are not) connected.

[TwoTired]

Check to see if the stock 1034/1073 bulbs have been replaced with higher wattage 1157/1156 auto replacements.
The stock flasher won't like the auto replacements.

[TwoTired]

Three 1034's one 1157. will replace it tomorrow.

What?
The rear bulbs are single element 1073.  Only the fronts are dual element 1034.

I got the number wrong previously. I'll go back and fix the post.

[leekellerking]

And you are surprised about this, why???  LOL

My left front turn signal (which I assume is an aftermarket replacement) was spliced together with twisted wires.  No tape, no shrink tubing, no nothing. 

But by golly, it is attached good now!

I consider the electrical system of my Nighthawk to be a work in progress.   


Lee

Mine are dual element bulbs front and back and the "position" element comes on the same as the fronts. I looked at the wiring diagram and can see where there is, indeed, supposed to be a single element bulb in he rear. I then looked at the rear wiring and it's all messed up. Splices warped in electrical tape and wire colors going where they shouldn't. PO'd again! I'll straighten that out tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up.

Jim

[TwoTired]

It occurs to me that I have dual contact sockets on the rear and can't use a single contact 1073. I'll put 1034's in and only use the one element.

That should work as long as you use the dimmer element at the rear position.

Cheers,

[HondaMan]

I got a Tridon RL13 flasher relay, hooked it up how I thought it should go and blew a fuse when I tried to use it. I've attached a 550 wiring diagram which matches my bike and a wiring diagram of the EL13 I got from the Tridon site. Please help me figure out which wire goes to which terminal.

Thanx, Jim B.

Connect BLACK to "X", GREY to "L", GREEN to "P".

[jimbir]

Hondaman, "Connect BLACK to "X", GREY to "L", GREEN to "P"." this didn't work as I discussed in the PM.

Followup. I took the EL-13 three prong relay back and exchanged it for an EL-12 two prong relay. Plugged it in and everything works fine. Someone said this wouldn't work with LED's. LED's on a '76? Heck, I'm only one step past Prestolites.

About two element rear bulbs. I think the light fixtures are from the front of a bike. They look exactly like the ones I bought for the front of mine when I removed the windjammer fairing. Anyway, in NY, it's illegal to have anything but a red taillights continuously showing on the rear. Amber turn signals are OK. I had to straighten out the rear wiring so I just left the position element unwired.

[leekellerking]

So, should I get a EL-12 for Bikey (my 1982 CB650SC) or a EL-13?)

Hondaman, "Connect BLACK to "X", GREY to "L", GREEN to "P"." this didn't work as I discussed in the PM.

Followup. I took the EL-13 three prong relay back and exchanged it for an EL-12 two prong relay. Plugged it in and everything works fine. Someone said this wouldn't work with LED's. LED's on a '76? Heck, I'm only one step past Prestolites.

About two element rear bulbs. I think the light fixtures are from the front of a bike. They look exactly like the ones I bought for the front of mine when I removed the windjammer fairing. Anyway, in NY, it's illegal to have anything but a red taillights continuously showing on the rear. Amber turn signals are OK. I had to straighten out the rear wiring so I just left the position element unwired.

[leekellerking]

So, should I get a EL-12 for Bikey (my 1982 CB650SC) or a EL-13?)

Followup. I took the EL-13 three prong relay back and exchanged it for an EL-12 two prong relay. Plugged it in and everything works fine.

2-prong "electronic" relay from Autozone -- $8.99

5 minutes sweating in the driveway -- Arghh.  

Working turn signals -- BEAUTY!!!  

[leekellerking]

Glad to hear...
Happiness is working blinkers. I hate hand signals.

Jim

Now, if I can just find that oil leak!  :-)

[Laminar]

I'm having issues with my '76 CB550. It came with a Windjammer installed and the rear turn signals messed up, so nothing was correct. I got four LED signals, wired them up according to the wiring diagram (ignoring the running light wires on front) and installed a new electronic two-prong flasher that worked on my CB750. When I try to activate either direction of blinking, all four lights come on solid, no blinking.

[TwoTired]

What happens if you temporarily remove the connection to the bulb in the advisory panel?

The F model and the K model have different wire diagrams.

[timmytim]

I'm having issues with my '76 CB550. It came with a Windjammer installed and the rear turn signals messed up, so nothing was correct. I got four LED signals, wired them up according to the wiring diagram (ignoring the running light wires on front) and installed a new electronic two-prong flasher that worked on my CB750. When I try to activate either direction of blinking, all four lights come on solid, no blinking.

sorry to resurect this thread but I am having the above problem on my 75 CB550 now that I have installed 4 led signals. I have tried a 2 prong Triadon 1g31b and a grote 44891. the triadon gets all 4 to light bright and the grote gets very low light on all 4 with ground wire not connected, when ground wire connected all lights go off. Anyone every had this problem and gotten it fixed?

[lucky]

For the OP.  The grey wire goes to the handlebar switch. From there it selects the signal to left or right signal.  That is the problem.  If the grey wire is not connected how can it work right? LUCKY