Topic: Strange turn signal issue.

[johnny]

Hey everyone.
The left turn signal on my CB350 will not flash. Both the front and rear bulb will remain lit when the turn signal switch is engaged. Right side works fine. All four turn signal bulbs are good. All other functions (horn, headlight, electric start, etc.) work properly. I've also checked for any loose or missing electrical connections and have so far discovered nothing.
I DID recently have to reattach the flasher - as the nut which fastens it had loosened up and fell off.
Is it possible the flasher is defective or should I focus my search elsewhere?
Thanks in advance for any advice and assistance!

[Bankerdanny]

I have a similar problem with mine. They only flash above a certain RPM level, and then slowly. I'm going to try a new flasher.

[Randy]

Yup..I had the same problem..New flasher will do the job.. but I think they call it a winker...

[johnny]

Thanks! Other than making certain I buy a two prong (instead of three), which is what is currently on there, is there anything else I need to look for when replacing it?

[gane]

John, a poor ground anywhere in the non-flashing side could be the source of your' woes.  the "flasher" does the same job for both sides. think of it as a contact which opens with heat.. the heat comes from current flow, enough resistance in the circuit & viola , not enough current flow to trip breaker.. check sockets for rust, & jumper ground wires directly from t/s's to chassis & check operation. luck g

[Tree]

I agree with Gane.  A problem with the flasher itself wouldn't explain why it worked on one side and not the other. 

[Gaither]

FWIW, I'm with gane. Been there, done that with turn sigs. They do strange things unless properly grounded.

I ran a "Popwood Ground" and that solved the problem. It's cheap, easy and gives you an excellent ground without the hassle of searching and cleaning every ground connection.

If anyone wants to try it, open the headlight, splice into only one of the green wires soldered to the large headlight mounting nuts (I used a slightly larger gauge wire). Run the new ground wire back to a coil mounting bolt (leave enough slack to turn the forks) and use a ring terminal there. Remove the coil mounting bolt, clean the frame where the ring terminal will contact the frame to bright metal. put the ring terminal on the bolt, reinstall the bolt and you're done. It works gooood! (Learned it here!)

[Johnie]

Be sure to get an electronic flasher. It will blink no matter what RPM you are at. Got mine at NAPA.

[johnny]

Fixed!
I purchased an electronic flasher - as recommended. Upon replacement, I had flashing turn signals on both sides.
I think I traced the issue to a poor connection at the rear bulb. After removing the bulb and cleaning the contact, everything worked fine.
Just for the hell of it, I reinstalled the old flasher and got the same original symptoms. Oh well, as long as the new flasher corrected the problem, I'm happy. Thanks everyone for the input!