I got caught in a rainstorm and my turn signals started going flaky
Went to my Indy and we had a discussion about whether my bike had a $9 flasher problem, or a $160 TSM problem.
The parts manual was sufficiently cryptic to not clearly state which, and the frame stud on the left side near the gas tank was rusty and empty, he then said to look behind the headlight, gave me one of each and said bring back what you don't need, and we'll settle up then.

It's a flasher, it isn't behind the headlight, but instead nestled in the wiring under the breadbox. The rain issue appears to be most likely coincidence.

Here's my question. What causes the turn signals to self cancel?

Is this built into the flasher, or does the Harley Flasher fairy follow you around to turn the flasher off when needed?

If I had to guess I'd go with a flash counter, or a timer of sorts, but it's got my curiosity up and I'd bet that someone here knows the answer.

Thanks in advance.

 

I believe that 91 was the first year for the tsm on all the HD bikes.
I also don't believe any of the flasher bikes had self canceling.
Yours does?
Subscribed.

 

Let's just say that I've never had to cancel my flashers, if anything they were too easily cancelled in use.

It's currently raining hard enough that I will wait to road test my bike. I'll report back on how they function with the replacement flasher unit later.

 

The flasher units don't self cancel. If yours were self canceling, then you have some thing else in there too.

 

They are self cancelling...

You cancel them your self, by releasing the button.

 

There are several self canceling aftermarket units for bikes wit flashers.
This one replaces the flasher, but sure there were other set ups.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/380-...gvoaAuim8P8HAQ



.

 

1990 FLHS here, owned from new. There isn't any accurate info posted about your bike so far, so let's change that! When new your bike had a fancy expensive module that enabled your indicators to be switched on and off manually, or used together as warning flashers. They would also switch themselves off, dependent in part on time, partly on distance travelled. There is a white/green wire between the module and speedo, which gives the latter info.

You can check this stuff yourself by simply referring to the parts book, your factory service manual, or an on-line parts website like this one - go to the 'switches etc' page. I suspect the original module is extinct and was expensive anyway (I had one go bad when I still had money!), however there are aftermarket modules available, such as from Badlands, which can restore the functionality you never knew you should have!

 

That fancy module came on the 89 model, Tups?

 

Yup - at least according to the link I gave and my trusty old parts book. It was used on the touring models from '89.

 

Then I'd say his fancy module is in need of that replacement one everyone likes.