Topic: Turn signals won't work...

[tonymasone]

New to the forum, first post, just bought a 74 cb750, finally got it running great, but I've been having an intermittent turn signal issue. When I first got the bike the turn signals would work sometimes, or sometimes they wouldn't work and the turn signal alarm would just stay on without pulsing. Now they just don't seem to be working at all and all I get is a steady audible tone but no lights, neither work left or right front or rear. Just wondering if there is a common starting point that can save me some time.

Thanks ahead.

[vrenlos]

The relay is probably the culprit - if it's not working then you won't get any flash.  Are the signals original or have they been replaced?  Bulb or LED?  The old style thermal flashers won't work with LED signals.

[flybox1]

1. check your flashlight relay...
2. check, clean, and dielectric grease flasher connections in your headlight can, and under your seat. 
3. remove your L handlebar control and clean the contacts in there.

[tonymasone]

They are aftermarket but a bulb type, just from a visual inspection the previous owners electrical work doesn't look that great, I know the bulbs themselves are in working order, so I'm with you guys on the flasher being bad or poor connections.

Where is the flasher relay located? I think I found it under the left side cover/fuse area. Are there any local places I can pick the relay up (advanceauto autzone)?

Also why doesn't the stock relay work with LEDs?

Thanks again for the quick responses.

[flybox1]

the relay, probably silver and cylindrical, should be under your L side cover.
you'll need one of the newer electronic relays for LED's.  the older mechanical relays wont work.
any of the 12v (2, or 3-pronged pos/neg/grnd terminals) electronic relays ($8) from your auto parts store will work.  some bikes do not use the ground

[tonymasone]

the relay, probably silver and cylindrical, should be under your L side cover.
you'll need one of the newer electronic relays for LED's.  the older mechanical relays wont work.
any of the 12v (2, or 3-pronged pos/neg/grnd terminals) electronic relays ($8) from your auto parts store will work.  some bikes do not use the ground

Thanks, found it, going to replace it tonight, thanks for the help.

[Gaither]

It may be the flasher - I'm betting you don't have a good ground. Turn sigs require a good ground or they do crazy things. I lacked a good ground (suddenly, out of the clear, blue sky)  and lost the headlight and the LF turn sig. The other 3 turn sigs were OK. All lights were OK the night before!

I ran a "Popwood Ground" and that corrected both lights. This is an easy-to-do wiring mod I learned on this Forum. Splice into ONE of the green wires soldered to each headlight mounting nuts (I used a heavier gage wire). Run the wire back to a  coil mounting bolt - use a Ring Connector. Remove the coil mounting bolt and clean the area  where the Ring Connector touches the frame to shiny steel. Run the bolt thru the connector and tighten the nut. You are done! You will have  a new, very positive ground. Yeah, I know, rather than this, you should search out and clean each and every ground connection on the bike. However, with my wiring skills, I would never find 'em all and would still have the problem. This is simple, easy - and it works!

Good luck!

[tonymasone]

Ok turns out it was a combination of 2 things, the first being shotty wiring, the guy who wired up the turn signals basically twisted the wires together and used electrical tape to "secure" the connections. I installed a crimp splice and some heat shrink tubing. Also the flasher relay was dead, used the universal 2 prong one from advanceauto (a lot heavier and sturdier looking too btw) rated for 20 amps (overkill) and it worked just like the original.

Thanks again everyone for the help.