Wiring turn signals:

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Aug 24, 2006 | 03:03 AM

imboden

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Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2005

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Wiring turn signals:

I just asked this in the softy section, but I thought I'd ask you fine folks as well....

I bought these signals off of ebay, and I'm wonderin which wire is which. there are three....black/blue/purple with a black stripe...

I wanna wire them into my wifes 79 FXS, but I don't know which wire is hot and which is ground.....and why the third wire?

sorry in advance for the stupid questions

Aug 24, 2006 | 11:11 AM

gbm

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Joined: Jan 2006

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From: Gulf Breeze, Fl.

RE: Wiring turn signals:

Assuming these are dual element lights, the black is always the ground, one of the other wires is for a running light and the last is for the brake light or turn signal. Get some test leads with alligator clips and bench test it with a 12V battery. Maybe someone at a shop will let you look at a wiring diagram. I think that all models of a similar vintage are color coded the same.

Aug 24, 2006 | 12:48 PM

jkenosh

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 116

Likes: 1

RE: Wiring turn signals:

yeap the third wire is a runnin light, must be front turn signals

Aug 24, 2006 | 02:44 PM

DGlide04

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 4,022

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From: Hudson Valley- NY

RE: Wiring turn signals:

You didn't say whether you bought them for front or rear turn signals, but the fronts are 3-wire, the rear 2 as the rear signals don't have the running lights on a stock HD. The front signals can be used on the rear of the bike which isn't a bad idea to add the running lights, but it will take a bit of additional wiring. Just asking.

Aug 24, 2006 | 04:24 PM

Bigbird

Tourer

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 325

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From: Po dunk NY

RE: Wiring turn signals:

A good way to see what wire is the running light and what one is the turn signal is to hook the blac wire to the black (neg) terminal on a battery charger then touch the other two wires to the red (pos) lead, alernate the two. The wire that makes the light brightest is the turn signal. The dull one will be the running light. Good Luck.

Aug 24, 2006 | 06:14 PM

imboden

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RE: Wiring turn signals:

thanks for the help everybody, tremendous help. I did buy four signals, and I bought front ones for the whole bike so I could have runners on the back too. I just didn't know what wire was what. But now this:

so I bought a meter at napa and I've been testing things right off of the battery with some wires. this is what has happened so far:

ok edit...just deleted all that crap. I've got it figured so when I hook everything up, they turn signals just FLASH. Then when I push the button they turn OFF and the flasher makes a fast click noise that dosn't stop. What have I done wrong?

Aug 24, 2006 | 10:44 PM

DGlide04

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Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 4,022

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From: Hudson Valley- NY

RE: Wiring turn signals:

I'm not sure, but the continual fast flashing may indicate that there is a problem with one of the bulbs. If you're using the 3-wire signals on all 4 corners of the bike, make sure that you have the same dual filament bulbs in all of the signals. If one is mismatched, it could cause the problem. I think the dual filament bulbs are 1157, singles are 1156, or the other way around. Just make sure all of the bulbs match first.