Sportster Turn signal problem fix
#1
05-16-2012, 01:05 PM
Sportster Turn signal problem fix
Ok, searching all day trying to find a fix for my Dad's Sportster's turn signals. I found alot of threads with the same problem but none with solutions. So i am just starting a thread to answer all of them and to hopefully help people with the same problem in the future.
Here is what happened:
My Dad got a sportster from a police auction, it was pretty beat up, spray painted green, lights and mirrors broken off and all the wiring had been cut to ****. We have been fixing it up for him and came to the wiring and lights. We replaced all the stock lights,we put wedge strut mounted dual filament lights in the back and oval dual filament lights in the front. After a day of wiring everything worked but the signals. There are running lights on all four corners but when you hit the signal button, the light comes on and stays on, no flash. But they work fine as emergency flashers.
When i was going over threads on here people where having the exact same problem and they too had replaced the stock signals. I was thinkin the turn signal module or a ground, but many other people had replaced the tsm with no luck and i knew all my grounds where good since i just rewired the bike. That lead me to the aftermarket lights, they are the common thing in all these threads. Stock signals use 1156 and 1157 bulbs, these aftermarket ones use little 12v5w bulbs, way way smaller. Well i had some load equalizers layin around that came with some led thing i bought at one time so i thought i would try em and they worked.
The fix is wiring in a load equalizer on each corner, you can get the on ebay for a couple bucks. i ordered the ones that handles two lights so i dont have to try and hide four of those things. So either order two from the link below or four of the single lead ones. Here is the link for the two light one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Turn-Sig...325e7f&vxp=mtr
They are super simple, splice one end into the turn signal wire(NOT running light) and the other to the ground. Done. I am putting one inside the headlight bucket and the other under the seat on the fender. i have a little freedom since i am rewiring the whole bike but i am sure you can figure it out. There you go, ride safe
Here is what happened:
My Dad got a sportster from a police auction, it was pretty beat up, spray painted green, lights and mirrors broken off and all the wiring had been cut to ****. We have been fixing it up for him and came to the wiring and lights. We replaced all the stock lights,we put wedge strut mounted dual filament lights in the back and oval dual filament lights in the front. After a day of wiring everything worked but the signals. There are running lights on all four corners but when you hit the signal button, the light comes on and stays on, no flash. But they work fine as emergency flashers.
When i was going over threads on here people where having the exact same problem and they too had replaced the stock signals. I was thinkin the turn signal module or a ground, but many other people had replaced the tsm with no luck and i knew all my grounds where good since i just rewired the bike. That lead me to the aftermarket lights, they are the common thing in all these threads. Stock signals use 1156 and 1157 bulbs, these aftermarket ones use little 12v5w bulbs, way way smaller. Well i had some load equalizers layin around that came with some led thing i bought at one time so i thought i would try em and they worked.
The fix is wiring in a load equalizer on each corner, you can get the on ebay for a couple bucks. i ordered the ones that handles two lights so i dont have to try and hide four of those things. So either order two from the link below or four of the single lead ones. Here is the link for the two light one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Turn-Sig...325e7f&vxp=mtr
They are super simple, splice one end into the turn signal wire(NOT running light) and the other to the ground. Done. I am putting one inside the headlight bucket and the other under the seat on the fender. i have a little freedom since i am rewiring the whole bike but i am sure you can figure it out. There you go, ride safe
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HOTLAP (08-05-2017)
#2
05-16-2012, 01:51 PM
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Had the same problem with my Enfields before I remove (they actually fell off on their own) the signals. If the flasher on the Sporty is a 2 wire type you can rectify the issue by going to Napa and buying a variable load flasher. They are made to work with a vehicle that you hook a trailer to but also help when you have unbalanced loads on your motorbike.
I was planning to convert over to LEDs some time in the near future. I believe with those you need to purchase a digital flasher as they draw so little they would need a balast resistor to work with a standard one. (the balast kinda defeats the purpose of the lower load)
If I am off base on this I am sure someone will let me know just how full of crap I am shortly.....
I was planning to convert over to LEDs some time in the near future. I believe with those you need to purchase a digital flasher as they draw so little they would need a balast resistor to work with a standard one. (the balast kinda defeats the purpose of the lower load)
If I am off base on this I am sure someone will let me know just how full of crap I am shortly.....
#3
08-05-2013, 09:06 AM
#4
08-05-2013, 04:28 PM
yep its tooo tight - had this happen on my buddies fat boy loosen it up a bit and now it workin normal
#5
09-15-2013, 05:50 PM
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03-18-2017, 09:10 PM
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08-05-2017, 01:45 AM
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96 Sportster Turn Signal Problem
My problem is different than what I've read here. When I first got the bike the turn signals would flash and not stop flashing if I'm not moving. If I'm moving they would automatically turn off after a period of time. Is that normal? Now they just started working intermittently. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Any ideas on what could be wrong?
#9
04-23-2020, 09:57 AM
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similar issue
Ok, searching all day trying to find a fix for my Dad's Sportster's turn signals. I found alot of threads with the same problem but none with solutions. So i am just starting a thread to answer all of them and to hopefully help people with the same problem in the future.
Here is what happened:
My Dad got a sportster from a police auction, it was pretty beat up, spray painted green, lights and mirrors broken off and all the wiring had been cut to ****. We have been fixing it up for him and came to the wiring and lights. We replaced all the stock lights,we put wedge strut mounted dual filament lights in the back and oval dual filament lights in the front. After a day of wiring everything worked but the signals. There are running lights on all four corners but when you hit the signal button, the light comes on and stays on, no flash. But they work fine as emergency flashers.
When i was going over threads on here people where having the exact same problem and they too had replaced the stock signals. I was thinkin the turn signal module or a ground, but many other people had replaced the tsm with no luck and i knew all my grounds where good since i just rewired the bike. That lead me to the aftermarket lights, they are the common thing in all these threads. Stock signals use 1156 and 1157 bulbs, these aftermarket ones use little 12v5w bulbs, way way smaller. Well i had some load equalizers layin around that came with some led thing i bought at one time so i thought i would try em and they worked.
The fix is wiring in a load equalizer on each corner, you can get the on ebay for a couple bucks. i ordered the ones that handles two lights so i dont have to try and hide four of those things. So either order two from the link below or four of the single lead ones. Here is the link for the two light one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Turn-Sig...325e7f&vxp=mtr
They are super simple, splice one end into the turn signal wire(NOT running light) and the other to the ground. Done. I am putting one inside the headlight bucket and the other under the seat on the fender. i have a little freedom since i am rewiring the whole bike but i am sure you can figure it out. There you go, ride safe
Here is what happened:
My Dad got a sportster from a police auction, it was pretty beat up, spray painted green, lights and mirrors broken off and all the wiring had been cut to ****. We have been fixing it up for him and came to the wiring and lights. We replaced all the stock lights,we put wedge strut mounted dual filament lights in the back and oval dual filament lights in the front. After a day of wiring everything worked but the signals. There are running lights on all four corners but when you hit the signal button, the light comes on and stays on, no flash. But they work fine as emergency flashers.
When i was going over threads on here people where having the exact same problem and they too had replaced the stock signals. I was thinkin the turn signal module or a ground, but many other people had replaced the tsm with no luck and i knew all my grounds where good since i just rewired the bike. That lead me to the aftermarket lights, they are the common thing in all these threads. Stock signals use 1156 and 1157 bulbs, these aftermarket ones use little 12v5w bulbs, way way smaller. Well i had some load equalizers layin around that came with some led thing i bought at one time so i thought i would try em and they worked.
The fix is wiring in a load equalizer on each corner, you can get the on ebay for a couple bucks. i ordered the ones that handles two lights so i dont have to try and hide four of those things. So either order two from the link below or four of the single lead ones. Here is the link for the two light one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Turn-Sig...325e7f&vxp=mtr
They are super simple, splice one end into the turn signal wire(NOT running light) and the other to the ground. Done. I am putting one inside the headlight bucket and the other under the seat on the fender. i have a little freedom since i am rewiring the whole bike but i am sure you can figure it out. There you go, ride safe
#10
04-23-2020, 04:26 PM
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