Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

problem with flashers

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 17, 2009 | 08:15 PM
  #1  
jl28's Avatar
jl28
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: CNY
Default problem with flashers

I have a 2000 sportster custom all of a sudden I only have 1 running light that works[rt front],the left front blinks sometime and the rears don't work at all,but all four corners light when used for turn signals or 4 way flashers.any idears?anybody else have this problem?
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 01:04 AM
  #2  
A7X's Avatar
A7X
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Default

I have an 01 custom and two days ago, the right rear ts stopped working/blinking. I posted on here, and people said that it was probably just the bulb that needs to be replaced and it should work fine after that. My first guess was a fuse or something but I'm new to Sportsters so that was just a guess. Anyways I haven't had time to pick up a new bulb or do any work on it, so I guess I don't have a real good answer for you, but I have the same problem.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 06:29 AM
  #3  
WVHogRider's Avatar
WVHogRider
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
Default

The answer is that you need a new left front bulb as the one element of the bulb is burnt out. Your rear signals only work as signals, and not as running lights. Your front lights are two element bulbs, and the rears are one element bulbs. Hence why your lights work as four ways or signaling, but your front left running light does not currently work.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 07:40 AM
  #4  
Zimbob's Avatar
Zimbob
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 11
From: Grottoes Va.
Default

Originally Posted by WVHogRider
The answer is that you need a new left front bulb as the one element of the bulb is burnt out. Your rear signals only work as signals, and not as running lights. Your front lights are two element bulbs, and the rears are one element bulbs. Hence why your lights work as four ways or signaling, but your front left running light does not currently work.
+1 on the bulb.
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 09:32 AM
  #5  
stng_96's Avatar
stng_96
Road Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: Marion Ill
Default

WV hit the nail on the head, separate filaments in the one bulb, do separate things
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 12:26 PM
  #6  
jl28's Avatar
jl28
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: CNY
Default

Oh ,I thought the rears worked as running lights too.[I don't have an owners manual for this bike] .Thanks WV .
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 01:21 PM
  #7  
SportyPig's Avatar
SportyPig
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
Default

Originally Posted by WVHogRider
The answer is that you need a new left front bulb as the one element of the bulb is burnt out. Your rear signals only work as signals, and not as running lights. Your front lights are two element bulbs, and the rears are one element bulbs. Hence why your lights work as four ways or signaling, but your front left running light does not currently work.
Exactly!!
 
Reply
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 01:41 PM
  #8  
95yj's Avatar
95yj
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 6
From: Aruba
Default

Originally Posted by jl28
Oh ,I thought the rears worked as running lights too.[I don't have an owners manual for this bike] .Thanks WV .
Nope, as said previously, the rears are just turn signals.

HD and some aftermarkets make a kit which will turn your rears into brake lights. Usually come with red lens covers and a control module. That way the rears still work as turn signals, but when you hit the brakes, you have three brake lights instead of just the main. Obviously if your turn signal is flashing, that side will still flash and you will have two brake lights. This is usually done as a safety measure kind of like the third brake light that is mandatory on autos now.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 19, 2009 | 06:09 AM
  #9  
WVHogRider's Avatar
WVHogRider
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
Default

Originally Posted by 95yj
Nope, as said previously, the rears are just turn signals.

HD and some aftermarkets make a kit which will turn your rears into brake lights. Usually come with red lens covers and a control module. That way the rears still work as turn signals, but when you hit the brakes, you have three brake lights instead of just the main. Obviously if your turn signal is flashing, that side will still flash and you will have two brake lights. This is usually done as a safety measure kind of like the third brake light that is mandatory on autos now.
Or if you do like I did, and get aftermarket lights that come with three wires instead of the stock two wire lights in the rear, you can run the third (running light wire) into the extra plug-in area of the brake light circuit plug to get the rears to work as running lights & turn signals.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ChaseDWG
Dyna Glide Models
1
Nov 13, 2018 08:47 PM
emerican19
Dyna Glide Models
3
Jan 28, 2015 04:03 PM
rhd01
Touring Models
18
Jul 7, 2013 01:01 PM
89Sportster1200
Sportster Models
2
Oct 7, 2009 12:05 PM
lewlew
Sportster Models
2
Aug 14, 2008 08:36 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:06 AM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-18 10:29:31


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-3
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-5
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-9
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE