Topic: Indicator problem?

[Jim Shea]

I was riding (76 F1) today and suddenly the indicators all stopped functioning. I checked the fuses and there does not seem to be a specific one for the indicators? Are there any other checks I can make to find the fault, how can I check the relay under the seat?
Jim.

[mcpuffett]

hi ji, only thing i can suggest is you try another flasher unit ,a car one will do   mick.

[bryanj]

You can check if is a wiring /switch fault by putting the indicator switch one way and, with the ignition on , connecting the grey and the black wire at the relay together. The indicators (one side) should light up if not check for 12 volt at the black wire, if 12 v present wiring to switch or switch suspect

[Jim Shea]

Thanks. I connected grey & black and the indicator lit up. I cleaned the terminals and made sure they were snug and it is now working!!

[mcpuffett]

nice one jim   mick.

[Jim Shea]

Makes you wonder why though? I get paranoid when things stop working and then start again, I will buy a new one and replace it anyway!
I assume a car one would not fit as the unit looks very small??
Cheers,
Jim.

[Magpie]

maybe one from a small car then?

[Bob Wessner]

Makes you wonder why though? I get paranoid when things stop working and then start again,...

Jim,

Has the wiring harness ever had a good connection-by-connection cleaning? Might be worth a couple of hours with your favorite beer to keep you company. 

[Jim Shea]

Bryan,
Thanks, all sorted.
Bob,
Never been cleaned by the look of it. It all seems to be covered in grease, which I assumed was meant to be there? Once cleaned, do you coat the wires with anything?
Jim.

[Bob Wessner]

Jim,

Yes, dialectric grease as a matter of fact. Perhaps the previous owner has already done this for you..lucky you.

[Jim Shea]

It does look like it has been greased, but it also has collected a lot of dirt. I don't think this was done recently by the PO.
It may look dirty, but if everything is functioning I don't want to mess with it?
Maybe when I dropped the bike I loosened some wire?

[Bob Wessner]

Not to make unnecessary work for you, but how much grease is on the outside isn't the issue so much as have the surfaces of the male/female portions been cleaned and dabbed with a little grease before pushing them back together. Too much grease on the exterior will collect a lot of dirt as you describe. If you wait for it to become a problem, it could strand you a ways from home when something quits. If they have never been cleaned, it might just be worth pulling a couple of connectors apart to see what they look like internally. Just a thought.

[Jim Shea]

Bob,
I will do that, how do you suggest cleaning them? does a general bike degreaser work?, do you ever use WD40?
Do I need to use 'dialectric' grease on the connectors?
Also, should there be a cover over the regulator?
Jim.

[750goes]

Jim,

I was talking to my locksmith the other day, and mentioned I was having a few electrical issues and really didn't want to pull every wire on the bike, and was looking how to maintain good contacts between electrical connections, he put me on to a product called INOX, in a spray can, cost a little bit, it seems to work very well, is non conductive and never becomes greasy. they use it to degrease padlocks, cleans the crud out really well, then just put leads back together..

it helped me sort out some wires from the fuse box that were getting warm, and improved conductivity across the rusty fuses without resorting to scubbing the crap out of them..

check out a google search or whatever.. worth a read about the product anyway..

[Jim Shea]

Thanks mate, never heard of it. I will do a search..
Jim.

[750goes]

Jim,

I just spent half an hour reading this link,, it sounds like a good product for everything.... never knew I could use it for all those type of applications..

http://www.aussieweld.com.au/product_pages/inox/inox.htm

[Bob Wessner]

I'm not familiar with either of these products so can't say anything about them. My bike had been stored (I use the term loosely) for 22 years. When I put a new batt. in her, the only thing elec. that worked was a single non-blinking turn signal and the neutral light. On the advise of folks here, I went through the entire wiring harness connection-by-connection. Pulled each apart and used some electrical cleaner on the end of a Q-tip with most of the cotton removed, so it would fit. Ran it into the female side and twisted, wiped the male connector then put a small dab of dielectric grease on the male side before pushing them together. It took about two hours and everything elec. came back to life. Don't forget the rats nest in the headlight.

[Jim Shea]

I think I will clean up the wires relevant to the indicators as they are still intermittent, but this might just be a faulty unit or dirty connection?
I have never heard of Inox, it seems too good to be true, it is a magic potion that you can use on everything!? 
It doesn't appear to be available in the UK anyway!

[Objectionableone]

Jim, I use electrical contact cleaner, which comes in a spray can and a bit of dielectric grease.  Seems to solve any electrical contact problems.  Both are available at any auto parts store  - in the US at least.

[Jim Shea]

Thanks.
Off to buy more supplies that I don't have currently; contact cleaner and dialectic grease. I am slowly filling a shelf in my garage with all sorts of things!