Dumbest electrical question ever!!!

[bosulli]

My first post. Recently acquired a 77 super sport. Previous owner removed signal lights in efforts of converting to cafe racer. I decided to put generic incandescent rear turn signals on.

The circuit will not blink. In the photo below you can see a circuit with the flasher in the mix. The flasher component was not the old fashion flasher relay that I am accustomed to. Its a diode, solid plastic component. I tested the diode with the diode function on my meter. Granted I have never tested a diode, but it did read 0.45 one way, and would not read in reverse, so I assume it works. Also, I have never known one of these solid state electrical components to just fail, especially since it makes a closed circuit.

Today, I will get a new one from AZ and see if indeed the flasher has failed. Or I am doing something dumb ass and don't know better. After all I am an accountant, not electrician.

Thanks for your help, and forum.

[TOOLS1]

If the bulbs are LED you will need a special flasher designed for them to work properly. However if they are not LED, my first suggestion would be to check the ground. The factory used a dedicated ground wire (green) on all components. A lot of aftermarket lights just ground through the housing, and this does not always work, causing the light to find ground through another path just messing things up.
TOOLS

[bosulli]

Thanks for replying Tools.

The bulb is filament. Referring to the photo above, I am grounding straight into the battery's negative terminal, which should simulate connecting to the green wire on the bike. Connecting the fixture's red wire to the diode flasher, then to positive battery terminal, which should simulate the blue or orange connection on the bike. The light does come on, just no flash. Therefor I believe its grounded correctly and similar to the designed flasher circuit on the bike. If not, let me know.

The component I think is the flasher, has the plug pattern of a flasher. I unplug it from the area of the electrical panel that is similar to the location indicated in the shop manual. I am thinking its not really a flasher relay and its just a diode.

Just checking my assumptions as I am new to motorcycles and this is my first problem I have not been able to figure out. Although the picture in the shop manual is hard to see, is the flasher a small, solid plastic diode? Thought it should look like the relays I would see on an older car, that looks similar to the bikes regulator, but round?

[Truck]

Just a side note, you say your putting the lights on the rear, are you only putting them there? If you have to have the bike inspected you might want to check if that is legal. Most places require you to have either non or all 4.

[TOOLS1]

One light might not be giving enough draw to trip the flasher. You can tell when you have a blown bulb on a bike, or car when the signals stop flashing. This is because there is not enough draw to heat up the flasher unit and cause it to trip.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

Hard to see in pic, but I don't think that is a flasher. I haven't dealt with any that small anyways. I'd pick up a new flasher, they aren't too expensive, $10 at most usually. Doesn't have to be anything special.

[bosulli]

Thanks for the replies.

An update and still befuddled-

Found the diode on the wiring diagram, and its not the flasher. It does have the plug profile of a blinker though.

I still have the OEM lights from prior owner, and connected them. The light came on and bright, but no blinky.  I did this in case the load of the OEM lights were more then the aftermarket lights. For now I will assume the load of the aftermarket lights is sufficient to actuate the 'winker'.


I will attempt to find 'winker' again. Its next to the diode on the diagram, so I am assuming its on the electrical panel with the regulator, rectifier, and solenoid.

If anyone can point it out to me (77 super sport) I would appreciate, as have already looked for it on that panel, and not found it yet.

[TOOLS1]

I think it is round and in the front of the battery box on the right side.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

The flasher on my 78K was under the left sidecover. I can't get the exact location right now as the bike is in my shed with snow in front of the door. It was easy to get to though. I don't see why your would be much different. The originals were round and metal, at least mine was.

[bosulli]

On the 77 Super Sport it is behind the battery box, and obstructed by the other components. It near the center of the back of the battery box. Its held in by a rubber band socket that goes around it. It is hard to get to. First I tried to remove oil tank, but a lack of slack in the oil line will not allow much movement. Then i tried removing the rear plastic inner fender. That allowed me to grab it with pliers and loosen it from the rubber band socket. Now that it was 'loose' I came in from the left with needle nose pliers and pulled one terminal wire off, then pull the relay out from behind the other components and removed the second terminal. Then it was free. Set up a test circuit with battery and OEM turn signal. Light came on, but no blinky. I reversed the polarity just to make sure.