Intermittant Turn Signal failure

[roy]

On my 85 K the left turn signal randomly fails to operate. The right turn has never failed yet.

Failure mode does not seem to be temperature related since it works / fails from one try to the next. By wiggling the bar mounted switch I can usually get signals work. Cancel switch always works left or right. Time delay cancel also always works.

Questions:
1) Since right turn always works, can I eliminate the cancel switch circuitry?
2) Are the contacts on the bar mounted switch cleanable?
3) Are their components in this circuit I should be looking at?

Note: I have not dug into this problem past writing this post yet. I do have Haynes, Clymer, & factory manual if some one wants to say look at page # in this book.

Thanks

Roy

[Tinboatcapt]

with small parts dissassembling the switch housing then the contacts, and mechanism can be cleaned. The switch contains small springs, pins, and contacts that will require you to be very careful about keeping tract of them during dis/re-assembly.

That takes care of question #2.
As to #1, I don't have a strong understanding of the circuity to help with that question.
#3. The switch is built of plastic components and may be worn or dirty preventing full range of motion and therefore proper contact. Perhaps cleaning the switch, once it is removed from the assembly, with electrical cleaner will cure the problem without dissassembly of the switch proper.

The left signal switch on my 86 had been "fixed" by a previous owner with a piece of plastic glued into the switch to replace the button. The glue had cemented the switch together rendering it useless. I found replacement buttons at Motobins.com (at an awfull price for two small pieces of plastic) and was able to dissolve the glue and free the switch using electrical cleaner.

I charged into this project because the replacement switch assembly was quoted to be $75.00 by my local dealer.
Good Luck.
Jim

[2whelman]

If wiggling the switch housing makes it come and go, you likely have a loose connection in the switch, or a wire that has frayed/corroded. There can be a lot of gunk built up if it has never been opened up as well. Carefully clean everything, you will likely take care of the problem, or find the bad wire/contact if that is the case.

[roy]

Last Night I removed the switch from the handle bar and sprayed it down with contact cleaner. I did not go thru the complete dissassembly process yet. Switch is still random operation.

After looking at wiring diagrams in Haynes manuals I have a couple more questions:

1) Does this switch share the same power source as the Horn & Hi -Low beam switches? Horn & lights always work trying to determine where to start looking before having to remove fuel tank.

2) Does anyone know the wire color codes for this bike or the Haynes manual?


Thanks

Roy

[deilenberger]

Last Night I removed the switch from the handle bar and sprayed it down with contact cleaner. I did not go thru the complete dissassembly process yet. Switch is still random operation.

After looking at wiring diagrams in Haynes manuals I have a couple more questions:

1) Does this switch share the same power source as the Horn & Hi -Low beam switches? Horn & lights always work trying to determine where to start looking before having to remove fuel tank.

2) Does anyone know the wire color codes for this bike or the Haynes manual?


Thanks

Roy

1. No
2. The codes are in all the manuals. Look at them

And as far as tracking it down - your BIG clue is - it works sometimes if you wiggle the switch.

The switch is dirty. You can't clean it very well by just spraying cleaner at it. You have to disassemble it.

I'd suggest going to: http://www.ibmwr.org - look for K-tech pages, and then for cleaning the switch. You'll find writeups there on how to do it.

Both switches are vulnerable to dirt getting in them, especially if the bike is ridden in the rain. They are not sealed and are really not waterproof. It's surprising to me that they last as long as they do.

[roy]

2. The codes are in all the manuals. Look at them


I'd suggest going to: http://www.ibmwr.org - look for K-tech pages, and then for cleaning the switch. You'll find writeups there on how to do it.



Don unless I missed that page there are no color code Vs function in the Haynes Manual. My confusion is in the fact that it appears they are using green wires coming off of the fuse block. I have always thought green was ground.

My bad I looked at the K-Tech pages before starting this post and being blonde never even thought about the light switch is in the same switch cluster as the turn switch :doh

Thanks for all your help.

P.S. Switch assembly is $70 so I hope I don't loose any of the special screws etc.

Roy