Problem with Turn Signals Not Flashing

[krukster86]

Hey all,

I need some help with my turn signals on my CB360. Originally I had only a rear OEM pair that came with the bike, none in front. When the bike was turned on, the rear turn signals would always be on like they were running lights. When I flipped the turn indicator switch to either direction, the selected turn signal light would turn off and the other would stay on. I waved this off as a problem with the flasher relay or because there were not enough lights/draw to cause the flasher relay to "blink" the lights.

Now I have ditched those rear OEM lights for this little set up I created, along with an identical set up in front. :

I figure that with the increased number of lights, the flasher relay would activate and "blink" the lights. However, now BOTH the front and rear turn signals lights act like running lights (maybe I wired them wrong), which doesn't really bother me too much, but they still do not flash! I even replaced the flasher relay with 2 different ones I picked up at AutoZone with the same result. Once again the turn signal light from the indicated direction turns off, but now this applies to both the front and rear set! I have no idea what to do next, since I HATE electrical issues.

BTW the turn signals in question that act like running lights are EMGO Mark II Mini Stem signals. They have 3 wires: Red, Black, Black with White Stripe. The way I wired both the front and rear are as such:
Black w/ White: To the respective colored wire (e.g. Orange or Blue)
Black: To Ground (Green)

 

[Terry]

Try switching the black with the black/white wire. Maybe the black/white is the ground and the black is the flasher.

Terry
J'ville,Fl

 

[krukster86]

Nah I think that my turn signal switch wiring is messed up. I never bothered to check it so maybe my PO wired it incorrectly.

 

[zixxerboy]

2 wire lights or three wire lights? Had that throw me on my KZ

 

[krukster86]

The aftermarket turn signal lights have 3 wires: red, black, black with white stripe.

The bike has only 2 connections: Green (Ground) and Baby Blue on one side and Orange for the other.

I will mess around with the lighting again tonight, just to see if the wiring in the signal switch is wired correctly.

 

[Tim]

Check the bulbs - you may have dual-filament aftermarket signal lights, which are intended to be lit up as running lights and then a second filament lights up for the signal - just like your running/brake light.

My CB550F's front signals were like that from the factory. If that's what you have, just hook up one of the circuits and it will work fine.

 

[krukster86]

From the website:

"The Mini II indicators are made from die-cast aluminum and are available in either polished or chrome plated.  Lens are amber.  Measures 3-1/4" wide x 1-1/2" high x 1-1/2" deep. M8 x 27mm threaded shaft can be rotated using included lock screw.  Dual-element bulb (found at most auto parts stores) with 3-wire 15" leads (+12VDC High Beam, +12VDC Low Beam & Ground).  These indicators can be used as running lights by splicing the low beam leads into the headlight circuit.  "

Ok so it looks like I need to change the wiring correct?

 

[CThor]

You prob only need the black and red hooked up then. I got some aftermarket signals for another project and they were only two wire. The colors were black and yellow but the black was the ground and the yellow went to the orange for one side and baby blue on the other.

 

[krukster86]

After a lot of poking around it seems like the wiring from the signal switch to the harness might be messed up. I am unplugging most of the wires for the lights and the switches and starting over one at a time. All I need is a free weekend...

 

[krukster86]

OK so turns out my PO must have been colorblind or something because there were some wires that were unplugged and some that were connected wrong. Essentially what I did was unplug all the lights and everything from the wiring harness "front area" i.e. under the fuel tank and onwards. One by one I plugged everything back in, double checking a colored wiring diagram I printed off on 24"x48" (ssshhh don't tell anyone! ). At first nothing seemed to work, then I remembered I blew out the fuse from the last time I played with the electrical system. I replaced that and voila, the brakelight now works as it should for both the front and rear switches, the turn signals in the front and rear both flash, and my front turn signals are now running lights as well. All in all, a very un-frustrating job done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC2Zq-mJNI0 - Just cuz

The only problem is how to deal with the jumble of wires that my gas tank will sit on. Here is how my setup looks right now. Can someone upload a picture of their wiring so I know how to tuck it in without having the tank bouncing on a layer of wires?

 

[primo]

i too have those signal lights and have the same problem. so where is the black/white wire connected to and how about the black wire from the signal light? also, what does the non-grey wire from the relay connect to in the wiring harness?

 

[crazypj]

What bulbs are in there?
you need 12v, 21w.
The flasher relay probably tells you 12v 21x2 +5w so you have to have 47w load. It may just be a faulty relay?
Grey wire doenst go anywhere from what I remember?
I tthink its spare for places that got buzzer? (Switzerland maybe?)

PJ

 

[primo]

lemme see if i understand... there are two wires connected to 2 terminals from the stock cb350 signal relay. one is grey that attaches to the grey of the main wiring harness. the other one either connects to a green (ground) or a black (power) wire connector of the main wiring harness; i cannot tell since the PO didn't have the correct color wire on it

i'd still like to know where the bulb wire and the ground wire from the signals connect to in the headlight bucket

help a brother out

 

[primo]

alrite, so my aftermarket emgo signals have 2 wires, one black and one black and white. i've attached one to the left signal switch and the other to the ground. now they light without the flashing. when i detach the wires, i can hear the relay ticking but with them wired up, the relay is silent. what's the deal?

 

[Big R]

Do you have all 4 corners wired up? And is the motor running or not when you try it? I've seen both things cause flashers to work improperly. Personally, I think the easiest thing to do would be to get LED bulbs and an electronic flasher.

Sorry you've had so many problems with this!

 

[primo]

thanks for replying bigR

what's the difference between an electronic flasher and the stock one?

here's my current situation. i've got all four signals wired up and the right flash slowly but the left stays on.

is it a faulty relay or ill-matching wattage bulb as PJ mentioned?

 

[Big R]

I don't know what to say about the right flashing and left constant. Gonna have to wait for somebody else on that one

In general (sorry if its over simplified) the difference in flashers is that a mechanical one is actually waiting for the proper current for it to operate correctly. That's why when a bulb blows, you know it by the quick flashing. An electrical flasher just gets the signal from the switch and blinks at a pre-set speed.