1971 r75/5 electrical questions

[106179]

just bought /5 and have some questions about turn signal/running lights:

right signal stays on when switched, blinks intermittently, once every 5 seconds or so when it feels like it, left signal blinks every second when switched...relay problem?

are there running lights on this baby?

are their emergency flashers?

dont expect soon to be intalled hyperlites to draw too much but anyone have any advice on adding piaas regarding the bike's charging system etc...
thanks

bob

[Bill Burke]

Bob-
Remove and clean the two 8 amp fuses in the headlamp bucket and see if that brings you joy.

[106179]

Thanks Bill
will check it out in the am

bob

[rpeckham136133]

I think that if one blinks faster than the other, likely it is a crud connection to one or the other, I would clean connections at the bulbs, and pull the relay out and plug it back in a couple of times to make sure the contacts are contacting. Are both bulbs coming on (two on the left, f'rinstance) and the same brightness? Those old relays actually use a mechanical switch, depending on the electrical "load" that they see to determine how long they leave the lamps on. Could get a new two-blade flasher at NAPA for ten or twelve bucks, by the way. Flasher unit is in bucket.

Bob Peckham
Vero Beach FL

[Bill Burke]

Could get a new two-blade flasher at NAPA for ten or twelve bucks, by the way. Flasher unit is in bucket.

Bob Peckham
Vero Beach FL

This one reportedly fits 80's vintage. Not sure about /5.
Tridon EP35 - about $10 at Autozone.

[woodgrain]

Unless the PO installed them there, aren't any fuses on a '71 R75.

Woodgrain:deal

[roncooper]

Check that you have the correct sized bulbs. One with a lower wattage will blink slower.

[AnnapolisAirhead]

just bought /5 and have some questions about turn signal/running lights:

right signal stays on when switched, blinks intermittently, once every 5 seconds or so when it feels like it, left signal blinks every second when switched...relay problem?

are there running lights on this baby?

are their emergency flashers?

dont expect soon to be intalled hyperlites to draw too much but anyone have any advice on adding piaas regarding the bike's charging system etc...
thanks

bob
I had a similar issue with my 1983 R100T's turn signals. In my case, there was a connector near the battery to disconnect the rear tail light/turn signal assembly. I put a meter on it and did a resistance check on the connector, the bulb, the bulb assembly,e tc. Turns out the connector was all crudy and was the resistance problem.

Every now and then you'll see an older car with a rapidly flashing turn signal and 9 times out of ten its a resistance issue from a cruddied up connection. Replacing the connector made all the lights much brighter too. Even if the problem turns out to be elsewere, at least you'll know your electrical connections are shiny, clean and bright and that always helps them no grease at the point of contact, but I smear a small amount of dielectric grease on the outside of the connection after I've cleaned and re-connected it to prevent future corrosion. Since my bike had been well maintained, but ridden continually before being parked in a garage for eight years, I went through the whole bike, degrease, cleaned and checked resistance on every electrical connection. A pain, but now I have that comfortable 'know when it was done last' feeling. That's probably complete overkill for just fixing a turn signal light, but since the PO rode in all kinds of weather, I wanted to clean things up mechanically, electrically and cosmetically so taking it apart taught me about the bike and let me get it clean.

Not sure if your /5 would have had flashers, but I'd be surprised. I believe there is a forum thread on that in here someplace. If you don't have one, an investment in a Clymer's manual might be a good idea. This is my first airhead (2nd bike) and I was a new wrencher, largely from this forum and largely from Clymer's. Also, check out the microfiche on http://maxbmw.com/fiche/fiche.asp , realoem.com, beemerboneyard, boxerworks and great tech articles on airhead.org. Mostly, I'd read Clymer's look at the bike and if still stumped, pose the question in here. Amazingly generous help.

Also, I have an older 'BackOff' brake light, didn't seem to draw too much but I removed all extras to get back to stock config to diagnose and then add things back in as I need them. Hyperlights and the like seem to make a lot of sense to get seen, so I've put mine back.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[plaka]

If you use the BMW flasher then you should also use BMW bulbs (and the correct ones.) The flasher is quite sensitive. All connections need to be clean. If you ever have the headlight ears off then run independent grounds to each of the front turn signals. This can be done to the rears anytime however put a disconnect in the wire as you won't want to run it through the sub frame but you will want to disconnect it easily to move the sub frame to the rear here and there (or leave a 10" loop and tie it up).

If you use some other flasher then probably try other bulbs as well.

I would add the fuses if it hasn't been done.

The charging system isn't much. Keep in mind when adding extra lighting. Running a halogen parking bulb during the day will help keep the battery up. An 80/100 halogen headlight is good at night so long as you keep the RPMs well up. The halogen is a conversion kit for the headlight shell. In any event I would do the "big battery" conversion first if you can get it to fit (need LWB I think)