Turn signal question

[sonnyboy11]

Hi all. Haven't posted in quite some time.

Got a question someone here will know answer to. I have to replace the left rear turn signal on my bike after a drop. Is the best way to go about this just to replace the entire rear OEM assembly?

Also, my bike is a 1999 Valk Standard and I found what appears to be a full rear turn signal assembly on Ebay for a 1998. Are they the same part for both years?

Thanks for any help! 

[Pete]

Yes they are the same. Good approach is the $$ make sense.

[PharmBoy]

Sonnyboy, If you put front OEM turn signal lights on the front and rear, then you can make the rear turn signals into running lights/turn signals just as the rear brake light is a running light/brake light.  It just doubles your visibility from the rear.  It is easy to accomplish and not too expensive compared to a lot of other things that we do to our Valkyries.  It will surely get you noticed a lot more than "Safety Chrome"...JTL   

[sonnyboy11]

Interesting idea. Is there a 'how to' for this around somewhere or photos of someone who's done it to their Valk? I am having trouble imagining how fronts would mount back there.

[MarkT]

I wrote a tech article on how to make them run-brake-turn using just relays.  If you also use diodes and resistors you can do it with 1156 (single filiment) sockets that are on there now.  This is an inexpensive mod, though a little more involved then buying some of the pre-wired systems you can buy.  However it works much better than those systems.  And costs much less.  You might also want to change to red lenses.  I went to clear lenses and used red LED arrays instead of tungsten bulbs.
My article includes using VTX pods and changing to 1157 sockets.  Neither are necessary to do the mod, if you want to save some money. Others have sourced red lenses, and some have even painted the insides of the amber lenses, red.  I'm sure they will post, or you can search for red lenses.  You can also get clear lenses here, made for the Valkyrie:

http://store.58cycle.com/category_s/3773.htm


My article:

http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/VTX_signals/vtx_signals.html

Here's the circuit diagram from the article:

[RonW]

Here's something to be aware of, if you weren't already, when retaining the stock 1156 rear signals for a brake/running light conversion.

[Walküre]

Here's a treatise on converting front lights to rears, as well as a few other things. I plan on doing it soon. The thing to remember, is that it gives you yellow running lights, and they are illegal in most, if not all, states. Here in Indiana, they don't stop people for running stop signs and lights, speeding, seriously speeding, excessive noise, etc, etc, so I figure I'll chance it. The solution is to put a switch in line with the running lights, so that you can turn them off, so they LEO doesn't decide you can't drive the bike like that, and try to impound it.

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/signals.html

The other thing I am interested in is making a circuit board, that lights bright red LED's, like the Electrical Connection ones. I make all my own circuit boards, so it wouldn't be tough, just haven't found time to do it. Someone was going to send me a set, to play with, but didn't happen...

Good luck. I DEFINITELY want rear running lights!