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Hi there

This is my second post - first one being the greeting thingy - and, yeah... I seem to have a bit of an issue.

My indicators are going haywire. My bike was in storage for a year, so I've done the standard back on the road things: recharged the battery, exchanged oil and filters etc.

I've noticed that both my left and right hand side indicators are flashing way too fast. All the bulbs are brand new, and are both front and back were lighting up. My friend told me that it is probably caused by a busted relay, so I ordered it online. I'm still waiting for it. There is another development unfortunately, namely my back right indicator refuses to work. I have put the bulb in another indicator, and it is fine. I have also cleaned the connection (mushroom thing inside the indicator itself) as well, but still nothing. All the wires seem to be intact.

My question is: Is it possible for a busted relay to both cause the indicators to go crazy fast, and also preventing one of the lights to work.

Cheers

Mike

In my experience, absolutely anything is possible with indicators. It probably is the relay but if that doesn't fix it, it could be an earthing problem. Check the nut/bolt/whatever that holds the indicators to the frame cos that's where they earth. Don't just check, if they're reasonably easy to reach undo and clean up around them and do up again.

I really do hope it is just the relay. It would be an easy fix for me than. I'm not too skilled.

The only way to learn is to have a go! I'm not skilled, and I don't ride any more because of age and arthritis, but when I had bikes I did most of my own maintenance. I had biking friends I could go to for advice and help if necessary. Have you not been riding long?

I'd definitely check out all the earth points and connections in the indicator circuit. A bad earth is simply the number one electrical problem with older bikes (and cars). Clean up all the bullet connectors and all the bulb holders and check where any wires are connected to earth.

@BikerGran
I had a bit of a break from riding due to cash problems. My girl was sitting in my mate's gaf. I know the mechanical part of maintenance, but electrics always seemed like black magic for me.

@mangocrazy
Bullet connectors checked and cleaned up. It's like you're saying, it probably is bad earth. I have a new relay coming from wemoto anyway, since I ordered it last thursday. I really hope it will be just that. Wires do not like my touch.

So relay has been exchanged. That helped with flashing too fast,but rear indicator was still dead.
So I have checked all the wires. There were three points, that were not secured enough, so I used my thermal shrink connectors to put them back in order. Still no change.
And then I looked under the seat... That indicator slipped out of the plug...
Why didn't I check that in the first place? I didn't know that there was a plug

Love those 'kill switch' moments

Ah, I forgot to say the most important thing that I usually start with

"Always check the simplest things first"

Sorry about that!

At least it's not difficult to fix and not going to cost you money!

Glad you got there in the end. We've all had those "d'uh" moments...

In my case it was more like Homer Simpson style "D'OH!"

Join me in the next episode of my less than amazing adventures in the world of amateur motorcycle maintenance, when I will try to exchange an old rear brake switch, since the current one is not turning off properly.

ooh, good luck. This may be your friend:

https://www.mandp.co.uk/products/wurth- ... 0ml-692808

ACF 50 is fantastic at rejuvenating electrical components
Some of its applications are listed as ' avionic components, micro switches PC boards rheostats/ circuit boards '

Ummm... Yeah... Well...

I just binned the old switch, and put a new one in. After trying to stab myself with the guide spring.

I didn't know, that they are hard-wired into the electric system.

It's all a learning curve !
Long nosed pliers are an essential when playing with fiddly springs like that, injuring digits is not fun.
A multi meter is a must for electrical problems, you can trace where you have power and where you don't, if you don't have power is it a blown fuse ?
Wouldn't be the first time someone spent hours tracing circuits, checking switches only to find they forgot to put the fuse back in