Topic: Winker Bulb woes.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Left front winker went out yesterday.  The "running light" filament burns, but when I go to flip the switch, the arrow just glows and the rear lights up steadily while the front doesn't light up.  IIRC, isn't that normal for a dead bulb?

I replaced the bulb, but I don't think I got one of the right wattage because the symptoms persist.  Wouldn't it just glow dim or immediately pop if the wattage was wrong (high or low)?  The old bulb (Stanley, I think the original one), has 12V 8/23W on it and the new bulbs don't have any Watt markings.

I'm gonna try some new bulbs.  All the bulbs at the store were identical in dimensions, but they had different part numbers so I'm gonna try different ones.

Thoughts?

[supersport_CB400F]

If the new bulb has the wrong power rating, the bi-metal strip flasher unit wont work so good.

[Zane]

In the past I've had the same problem a few times.  Funny, but with me, only once was it bad bulbs which caused the problem.

A couple of times it was my low battery that caused it.  For whatever reason, my battery got low, but not so low as I couldn't start and run the bike.  At first the flashers did what you're describing, but once I ran on the highway for a bit, and got the battery charged up, then the winkers started working properly again.

One time the winker unit itself malfunctioned (for a reason I never did figure out - probably simply age though).  Once I replaced the winker, everything was hunky dorey.

I'm wondering if the double filament 1157 type bulbs all have the same wattage (just by definition) or if the "1157" only refers to the mount and double filament characteristic .....

[scondon]

    Not sure of differences between 400's and 750's but I would swap the right bulb(good?) with your bad left bulb and see if problem stays on that side. If it does then it's probably a wiring/ground issue.

     I've bought dual filament bulbs at the auto store and didn't pay attention to wattage, just size and whether the pins lined up. I didn't have any problems.

[GroovieGhoulie]

In the past I've had the same problem a few times.  Funny, but with me, only once was it bad bulbs which caused the problem.

A couple of times it was my low battery that caused it.  For whatever reason, my battery got low, but not so low as I couldn't start and run the bike.  At first the flashers did what you're describing, but once I ran on the highway for a bit, and got the battery charged up, then the winkers started working properly again.

One time the winker unit itself malfunctioned (for a reason I never did figure out - probably simply age though).  Once I replaced the winker, everything was hunky dorey.

I'm wondering if the double filament 1157 type bulbs all have the same wattage (just by definition) or if the "1157" only refers to the mount and double filament characteristic .....

The 1157s are what I put in.  Hmmm...I think I'll try switching the other bulb and see if it helps.  If it is the unit...damn.  More work.  Ah the joys of 30-year old machinery. 

[Kelvin8]

It's probably a bad flasher unit. I had a similar problem with my bike when I first got it. When the engine was revving high, the flasher worked okay, but slow. I replaced the flasher unit (an auto one is fine) and the signals work fine now.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Well I went out and checked it and it worked fine!  This time I had the engine running, before I was in a hurry so just used battery power and it didn't work.

The filament on "running light" is a bit dimmer than the other side, but my bike has the hi-beam on all the time anyway so they're off until I use the blinkers.

[cb650]

I think (happens some times but more beer will stop that) the 1157s do draw more than the stock (1123's?) bulbs.




                Terry

[BobbyR]

While you are swapping out bulbs, give some attention to the bulb sockets - they probably need a cleaning. Also check your ground(earth) connections. Best of luck to you.