1972 R75/5 turn signal troubleshooting

[Anneliese]

I've owned my Beemer since picking it up at Krauser's in Germering after another Olympics, in 1972.

Last week, I installed a new turn signal relay to hopefully get my left side turn lights blinking again. This time, both left and right signals failed!

I am presently going to run a continuity test on the wiring..light bulbs are fine and switch may be OK..

Any hints on tracing the trouble?


Anneliese Anderle #3394
Long Beach, CA

[ecyarter]

Try cleaning the turn signal switch. First, try just squrting contact cleaner in whatever cracks/openings you can find. If that doesn't work, remove the switch and look for more openings. You could even submerge it in contact cleaner. You could probably disassemble the switch, but beware - there are springs and small parts that will pop or fall out. I have had very good luck over the years just squirting cleaner in through the cracks.

Be sure to get contact cleaner that is plastic-safe. Some will dissolve some types of plastic.

You might also inspect the wires where they have to flex between the steering head and the headlight bucket. 36 years - could be a lot of flexing!

[8ninety8]

I had this vexing problem after buying a '74 90S. Turns out PO had mounted a Vetter at one time and had used the pinch-me wire connectors throughout the wiring in the headlight nacelle.

After going through every slit wire, they still intermittantly worked. The problem was the spade connections to the color coded circuit board. After cleaning and securely connecting all spades, and securely re-mounting the blinker relay, and re-checking grounds, signals work perfectly. I actually found one spade connector barely hanging on. I wish now that I had stripped the inside and painted it white as suggested a while back.

[ebeeby]

The switch can be serviced. A spring is involved so working on it in a small well lighted room (like the bathroom) will save a lot of time if the spring gets away.

The relay was a good place to start and remember that even new relays can be bad.

But more than likely it is corrosion at the switch or even at the bulb. This could include the signal stalk ground at the forks so try tapping with a soft mallet.

[Anneliese]

Thank you all,

Even though I have some daylight left this evening, I have to buy some contact cleaner. Is it Carbon Tetrachloride?

Anyway, tomorrow is another day (GWTW, Scarlett 1939). My lovely BEEMER was built in July '72 so it just had its 36th birthday off the assembly line somewhere in the Munich area. I DID visit the museum and the HQ was right at the Olympic Village back in September when I picked it up. Bought it through Butler & Smith with the Krauser bags for about $1800 with German temp tags for export.


Anneliese

[ecyarter]

I don't think Carbon Tet is used anymore. Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Radio Shack should all have suitable products. Just make sure they claim to be plastic safe. I use the spray cans because the liquid comes out with enough force to get in through small openings.