Right turn signal lazy in cooler weather

[Dale_K]

I haven't been able to track down this problem.  The right turn signal doesn't start blinking for about 2-3 seconds after you hit the switch.  First noticed this right after I bought the bike in the spring and I took out the headlight and checked the wiring connections but didn't solve it.


Then it ran fine during the summer and now it's acting up again.  I pulled the rear fender connector and didn't get any change.  I even took the handlebar switch partially apart but couldn't actually access the switch contacts.  Wiggling the switch doesn't help.

It's kind of hard to diagnose because it starts working after a couple of seconds so you can't trace it out very easy.  Swapping bulbs didn't help either.  I found one loose bullet connector in the headlight bucket for the right front signal but taking it fully apart and reseating it didn't improve the function. 

Could this be the flasher unit?  Or is there some common failure mode for the turn signals? 

[Chrisj CMA]

It's probably old hard grease in the switch housing. Take it apart (don't lose these tiny screws) and clean out the old grease and apply some dielectric grease, that should fix your problem

[Tfrank59]

With mine it's the left signal not the right and it's been that way with other Honda bikes I've had is kind of weird my Kawasaki doesn't do it maybe it is bad switch grease who knows kind of annoying but not a big deal

[Hooter]

Try moving the switch back n forth while you flush it with WD40.

[Chrisj CMA]

Try moving the switch back n forth while you flush it with WD40.

Once you take one apart you will know your advice has minimal chance of success

[MarkT]

I wouldn't use WD40 for cleaning elect contacts - use electrical contact cleaner from Radio Shack (or the like).  Might have to order online with RS closing down all over.  There are several brands of electrical contact cleaner at ebay - including one by WD40.  I still have a can from Radio Shack.

Meanwhile I'd look at grounds for your problem. Look in places where the left & rt circuits are independent. Including the switch. Remember - dielectric grease is non-conductive - it's usual purpose is to seal connections from moisture/air after they are made. Seems most folks use it inappropriately.  So did I until my inappropriate use started a fire.

[Wayn-O]

If my memory is correct, this happened to me on my Shadow VT1100C.  Pretty sure cleaning the switch solved the problem.  Good luck!

[Tfrank59]

 For me cleaning the switch solved the problem a little bit but then it didn't take long before it started having a lazy eye again

[Dale_K]

I already tried cleaning the switch.  Had to undo the choke cable and split the switch housing, then take apart some of the interior switch linkage.  I sprayed genuine contact cleaner but I don't think it really did any good.  By that time the weather had turned warmer and the right signal worked perfectly.

It's frustrating to work on because of how it remains partly functional.  After about 3 seconds the signal begins to flash regardless.  After a while it seems like it's fixed but then it acts up again in cooler weather.

I was hoping maybe somebody had fought this battle and won.  My track record on this kind of stuff is not good but I'll probably try a new flasher.  The switch is about $75.  I'd buy it if I only could know it is really the problem.  I'd be pretty mad if I spent the money and time to install a new switch and it didn't do any good.

[Chrisj CMA]

Contact cleaner is not designed to be a degreaser.  Inside the little box where the switch parts are, that grease needs to be removed.

Mine did the same thing and once I scraped all that grease out it worked perfectly

PS.  There's no need to disconnect the enricher (choke) cable.  Just crack the case and remove the innards

[Dale_K]

Update - Had some cool weather this morning and the right turn signal got lazy again.  Sometimes it would take 10 seconds before it would start blinking.

I had a brainstorm idea for troubleshooting the problem.  I got a hair dryer and tried warming up the switch.  Without making any other changes the right signal started working normally so my idea that it was the flasher seems to be wrong.

I took the switch completely apart.  There was some grease residue on the switch contact points.  There is a slider that moves from side to side and closes the switch points.  I took the slider piece out and cleaned everything.  It worked afterwards but tomorrow morning will be the read test when I try it out in cool weather.

I don't really see how the slight grease residue could be the problem because there was just as much grease on the side that works perfectly.  But there might be a weak/loose connection on the (non-repairable) wiring harness where it is permanently attached to the switch body.  If the cleaning process doesn't produce a real fix I guess I'll have to buy a new switch.  Not the end of the world but the end of $75 in my bank account.

[Ramie]

Not sure on the Valks but blinkers relays used to be made of bi-metal strips that heat up as a current is passed through them, as they age they wear out and need more current to heat them up in colder weather.

[Dale_K]

That's what I thought too.  It was the only component in the turn signals where heat would make a difference but it seems like the switch itself can cause the lazy syndrome.

I thought I could prove whether it was the switch or the flasher by using a hair dryer to raise the temp on one of the two suspects.  I was just sure it would turn out to be the flasher but I put the hair dryer on the switch first because it was easier to reach and it immediately started working better when the switch was warmed up.

I rode the bike this morning and the turn signals worked perfectly after the switch cleaning procedure.  It wasn't a perfect test because it wasn't really very cold but it used to give me trouble at the same temperature and now it doesn't.  I'll give an update if needed but right now I think it was the switch.  I don't understand why because both the right and left switch contacts were equally greasy but I can't argue with the results.

[Chrisj CMA]

 

[Tfrank59]

Not sure on the Valks but blinkers relays used to be made of bi-metal strips that heat up as a current is passed through them, as they age they wear out and need more current to heat them up in colder weather.

sounds like a good case to replace.  my left signal gets slow in colder weather, I've cleaned it more than once (helps for a short time), but I honestly don't feel like spending for a new switch what somebody quoted--$75--just to get a quick-responding blinker when it's cold

[spongebob]

I don't see where mileage of bike was stated.
You might be passed mileage of that blinker fluid...
You know you have got to change that stuff after while........