Topic: '77 550 blinker noise.

[le_sterls]

I ride a '77 cb550k, and it has a hideous beeping noise when I put on the turn signals. I've located the speaker, but don't know if it'd be wise to remove, as it may cause a short. Do you fellas' just put up with the noise? or is there something I can do about this? It greatly over powers the sound of the engine, and I can hear it clear as day in a full face helmet. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

le_sterls

[scrapvalue]

Shouldn't be any problem with unhooking it.
I know a couple people who removed them off their CB750's.

[Spikeybike]

i removed mine with no trouble .. it plugs in either inside the headlight or (if your lucky) just behind the headlight

[lone*X]

The blinker beeper does serve a purpose you know.  It is not there just as a nuisance.  Our bikes have non-canceling signals.  A blinker you forget to cancel after a turn is sending a message to all those cars and trucks around you that could spell trouble when they pull in front of you thinking you were going to turn the other way.  At the minimum riding down the road with a turn signal blinking just makes the rider look stupid.   Obviously the beeper is not a requirement, just want you to think about why it was put there by the engineers.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I've performed a beeperectomy on my '77 550 without mechanical or electrical issues.  As Lone quite correctly points out, you do run the risk of pulling a geezer by not canceling the signal when you complete your turn.  I have to admit, I've done it many times!  But you eventually get into the habit of canceling the signal yourself.

[Nikkisixx]

Le_Sterls I can't believe yours is still hooked up!   Also, I can't believe you guys can hear that darn thing when you are riding.  It usually only makes enough noise to be annoying while sitting at a light.      

[BlindJoe]

hack those sob's off, it'll keep you on your toes

[fatmatt650]

Mine blinks at different rates w/ different speeds. Is it supposed to do that? Also my rear turn signals do not function as running lights. I want to think that's just how it is from the factory but have no idea. 1976 cb750f.

[axehole54]

Mine blinks at different rates w/ different speeds. Is it supposed to do that? Also my rear turn signals do not function as running lights. I want to think that's just how it is from the factory but have no idea. 1976 cb750f.

My 78 750k's rear lights are 1 wire each are your's two?  Do your signals blink slow below 2700 - 3000 and drastically faster above that?  I don't think the charging system really functions below that rpm

[my78k]

rears don't generally operate as running lights...just the fronts.

As for the blinker speed changing it could be a sign that your relay is failing or that your charging system may be out of whack or that you have incorrect wattage bulbs. Usually the easiest fix is to convert to an electronic flasher relay (3 prong).

Dennis

[lone*X]

Just a little something extra to throw in.  My VTX 1800 also came with non-canceling signals.   Several years ago on the VTXOA board I found a reference to http://www.blinkerbuddy.com/ , spent a few bucks and am totally happy with the product.  You never forget to turn the signals off.

[my78k]

it's funny, I have never had a bike with self cancelling signals but am anal about turning them off. My buddys that I ride with get annoyed with me making hand gestures to them off when I am behind them (in their mirrors) trying to get their atttention to turn them off.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Just a little something extra to throw in.  My VTX 1800 also came with non-canceling signals.   Several years ago on the VTXOA board I found a reference to http://www.blinkerbuddy.com/ , spent a few bucks and am totally happy with the product.  You never forget to turn the signals off.

Neat device!  and a GREAT way to get the ladies on ur bike!! 

[jro75]

I was going to disconnect mine but I first tried putting some tape over the speaker and it is now much less annoying.....think I will keep it.

[my78k]

LMAO!!! My wife may find riding with me MUCH more fun! I can't believe I have never heard of these!

[TwoTired]

You can unplug the leads in the headlight bucket to defeat the buzzer.
However, the buzzer is a reminder for you to turn them off, thereby leaving other drivers slightly less confused about your intentions.  And, it also warns pedestrians there is something other than cars to avoid.

Rather funny that people like loud pipes to draw attention to them, but a warning/safety buzzer annoys the rider. 

[OldSchool_IsCool]

You can always connect the beeper to a switch.  Turn it on when you are backing your bike into a parking slot. 

[KB02]

Rather funny that people like loud pipes to draw attention to them, but a warning/safety buzzer annoys the rider. 

Loud Shirts save lives. 


Another thing to consider is that if YOU can hear it, just imagine how many other people can hear it and will know that you are turning.

Granted, I am the worlds biggest hypocrite. I supports all kinds of safety measures and wear full riding gear with reflective strips, but the turn signal buzzers were the first things to come of my SOHC4's. 

[le_sterls]

I realize that it is there as a reminder to turn it off. But it is wayyyyyyy to annoying. I have the stock 4-4 exhaust, so pulling into the left turn lane at some what high rpm, it still over powers the engine. I'm going to look for ways dampen the noise, but I may end up just pulling it off.

[Popwood]

Yeah, I thought it was silly at first and a tad embarrassing at a stop light, but you do get used to it. You can also back the switch button off a bit and the signals continue to blink but the sound goes away. Sometimes I wonder if people around me think I'm about to back up!

[tortelvis]

Sounds like you need to replace the blinker fluid! 

[le_sterls]

I feel like everytime I'm at a light, it's all people hear haha. It does remind me of when I worked at a warehouse, the sound of the high-low backing up. It is a helpful device. However they could've toned it down slightly. (By slightly I mean like 15 decibals, haha.) Perhaps you're right though, maybe the beeping is just an indicator that my beeper fluid needs to be changed. hahaha 

[lone*X]

Since some of you liked the blinker buddy and could think of additional benefits it could provide, you may be interested in its Big Brother. 

http://www.dscbikeshop.com/viberider.html

[xenoscr]

Am I imagining it or have I read in these forums that some use the buzzer as an indication of their charging systems state... the more lethargic it begins to sound the worse off you are?

XeNoSCR

[fishhead]

  Some of the earlier models had an "extra " button below the horn button to silence the beeper when you wanted to. Push the button and the beeper goes silent while the turns still work.

 It's fun to play with pedestrians and cagers at a stop lights. Push the button in and then let it beep once and push it back in. They usually look all around for the source of the beep. Do it again and they look even more. I'm easily amused though.

 Purty cool...

[Popwood]

Am I imagining it or have I read in these forums that some use the buzzer as an indication of their charging systems state... the more lethargic it begins to sound the worse off you are?

XeNoSCR

I have no charging problems (that I know of) on my two bikes but the I find both the beeper and the blinkers themselves are much slower at idle than at any other speed. I think beeper takes a bit of power to sound, more than the blinker light. I'm sure some of the electrical gurus on the site can provide an expert explanation.

[TwoTired]

That's easy.  The turn buzzer/blinkers are all voltage sensitive.  At idle the battery is depleting and the voltage falls. Reve the engine the alternator regains strength and ups the battery voltage, buzzers get louder, blinkers blink faster.

It's not a problem. It's just the way of things.

However, the magnitude of the rate of change and buzzer strength can also be exacerbated by general wiring/connector voltage losses due to oxidation, increased switch contact resistances, and fuse clip oxidation/resistance all making the common black wire power distribution buss and alternator strength diminished.  (The voltage lows get lower.)

Cheers,

[CBDee]

I'm curious. Whatever happened to not being a mindless stooge and turning the f@#%ing blinker switch off after your turn? Are you telling me you are so heedless of what you're doing on a motorcycle that you can't even operate the blinker switch properly, and need an idiot box to do so? Because, if you're not paying strict attention to everything while you're riding, then you're an accident waiting to happen. Sorry, but somebody had to mention this one simple solution to all of the lights, beepers, buzzers, vibrators (?) and other paraphernalia being tossed around here, when all that is needed is a little attention to what you're doing. Just my opinion, of course, but give me a break, please!  

And yes, i disarmed the turn signal buzzer the instant i got my bike as I consider it to be an abomination in the eyes of God and man. MHO

[axehole54]

Hand signals anyone? they're still legal here 

[Deltarider]

You could wire it up to the oil light. That's what I do before setting off for long vacationjourneys. Once, crossing the Pyrenees (at the border between France and Spain) it sounded at idle. Not that I would not have noticed the red oil light flickering, but still... Turned out to be a leaking O-ring in the oilpump, by the way.
An even better suggestion: make a switch at the sidestand and you'll be alarmed when the sidestand is still out, before you depart.

[CBXJOHN]

MODERN Honda's don't have the alarm! My CBR's, RC 51, Hawk GT, and my CBX all have rider canceling signals. I don't think my '74 CB 360G had the audible signal, but I can tell you this, when my "new" '75 750K arrives off the trailer next week, that speaker contraption is GONESVILLE!!! A speaker? That's too corny even for me to fathom!

John

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Hand signals anyone? they're still legal here 

My arm gets a NASTY cramp when I forget to cancel my hand signals.

[scrapvalue]

Hand signals anyone? they're still legal here 

My arm gets a NASTY cramp when I forget to cancel my hand signals.

The cramp is natures warning buzzer!

[SohRon]

I consider it to be an abomination in the eyes of God and man

+1  

You could wire it up to the oil light...  an even better suggestion: make a switch at the sidestand and you'll be alarmed when the sidestand is still out, before you depart.

Excellent uses for this warning buzzer!! At least it would make it useful for something. I'll admit to having left the stand down once in my younger days. As I made the turn at an intersection, the stand planted itself in the pavement like a ski pole and pivoted the bike around and smashed it to the ground ('69 CL350), where it slid down the highway into oncoming traffic. Fortunately, everyone had their s41t together and managed to avoid me until I came to a smoking, bleeding stop. I bent the bars back into a semi-ridable position and went on my way (you cannot kill a Honda 350. They are simply indestructable), but I still carry the scars all across the back of my left hand and arm...

Wondering what the best way to add a switch to the kick stand would be?

[Deltarider]

Wondering what the best way to add a switch to the kick stand would be?

I used to have a mercury filled switch (a little tube), simply attached to the sidestand. It didn't live long though due to frequent offroad adventures (yes, you can take a CB500 offroad, it's not that heavy). I haven't seen these mercury switches around for a long time, but I remember some Kawa's had proper sidestandswitches. With two diodes you can wire the buzzer both to the oillight as well to a sidestandswitch.

[BlindJoe]

I'm curious. Whatever happened to not being a mindless stooge and turning the f@#%ing blinker switch off after your turn? Are you telling me you are so heedless of what you're doing on a motorcycle that you can't even operate the blinker switch properly, and need an idiot box to do so? Because, if you're not paying strict attention to everything while you're riding, then you're an accident waiting to happen. Sorry, but somebody had to mention this one simple solution to all of the lights, beepers, buzzers, vibrators (?) and other paraphernalia being tossed around here, when all that is needed is a little attention to what you're doing. Just my opinion, of course, but give me a break, please!  

And yes, i disarmed the turn signal buzzer the instant i got my bike as I consider it to be an abomination in the eyes of God and man. MHO

yeah, thats pretty much my take on it, glad someone else feels the same

[Mdub]

On my '73 K4 750, if you hold the switch about half way,
just before it 'clicks' on, it flashes without beeping.
Then you just let go of it after your turn.
I still beep away at a long light though.
Fortunately, you can't here it over the stereo!