Cold Weather Blinker Problem

[mhallock]

When the weather gets cold (50 degrees F) my Interstate blinkers take a long time to begin blinking after turning them on, maybe 30 seconds or so after I start the bike. As it gets colder (35 degrees F) it might take a minute or more for them to begin blinking. No problems at all with them in the summer months. Any thoughts? (and no blinker fluid jokes).
Thanks in advance.
Mark

[John Schmidt]

Yeah...quit riding in the cold.    Or, open up the left side switch box and clean out the old stiff grease and replace with some new.

[Challenger]

[Yeah...quit riding in the cold.  Grin  Or, open up the left side switch box and clean out the old stiff grease and replace with some new.]

+1

[Pluggy]

Valkyries came new with a thermal flasher relay.  When the turn signal switch is on, a thin piece of metal has to heat up for the flashing to start.  If the relay is cold, it takes longer to heat up.  An electronic relay, like this one, will not have that problem.  I put one on my bike and didn't need the little cable.


https://www.amazon.com/MFC-PRO-Electronic-problems-FLR-MFC2/dp/B082X6DX6L/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3O9M8JU8VRALN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f43Bkufg6EsK1GYeNcPjAIM2gZNPQYPJONG2FVg3RNak-kWCprW69IB4hWHTk-_6uzY_9ikKnUuo4SfKcOftaz07KSXIdEGKgLIzHD0-gVmgMcUwsNK56t96LUKKo2jhCZf_c6kn9g_BL34OjQN4NDeOVDl-chqIsrc9FUV49-A5OW1wRvXkvqK_a75m8qsNagkrsrXMbP50MrfuoqZNBKVH9Vfxvf32bOQg8VquaX0.v__Eb_E0b0D2kUKIBJvKE0U3ABHtDXfTyRkKVi9lNXc&dib_tag=se&keywords=motorcycle+turn+signal+relay+3+pin&qid=1735005766&sprefix=motorcycle+turn+signal+relay+3+pon%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-8

[Mooskee]

Valkyries came new with a thermal flasher relay.  When the turn signal switch is on, a thin piece of metal has to heat up for the flashing to start.  If the relay is cold, it takes longer to heat up.  An electronic relay, like this one, will not have that problem.  I put one on my bike and didn't need the little cable.


https://www.amazon.com/MFC-PRO-Electronic-problems-FLR-MFC2/dp/B082X6DX6L/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3O9M8JU8VRALN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f43Bkufg6EsK1GYeNcPjAIM2gZNPQYPJONG2FVg3RNak-kWCprW69IB4hWHTk-_6uzY_9ikKnUuo4SfKcOftaz07KSXIdEGKgLIzHD0-gVmgMcUwsNK56t96LUKKo2jhCZf_c6kn9g_BL34OjQN4NDeOVDl-chqIsrc9FUV49-A5OW1wRvXkvqK_a75m8qsNagkrsrXMbP50MrfuoqZNBKVH9Vfxvf32bOQg8VquaX0.v__Eb_E0b0D2kUKIBJvKE0U3ABHtDXfTyRkKVi9lNXc&dib_tag=se&keywords=motorcycle+turn+signal+relay+3+pin&qid=1735005766&sprefix=motorcycle+turn+signal+relay+3+pon%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-8

When I switched to LED lights, I had to replace the flasher relay with an electronic one because the LED bulbs do not draw much current to operate the mechanical one correctly. I got it from Super Bright LEDs.

[Jess from VA]

Except for the times when I need to clearly broadcast a turn to other drivers (for my safety), I signal with my arm (which is most of the time).

This is principally because I am forever forgetting the signal is on.  I try to remember to cover the button with my thumb when it is on, but I forget to do that too.   

It irritates me to no end to look down and see the signal working away a half mile down the road. 

I had other bikes with self-cancelers, and I miss that.

On the other hand, I can always remember my name.   

[SCain]

Like everyone else said, open up the left control and disassemble the switch, clean and relube. It will feel like a new switch and will work great in the cold or heat 

[Oss]

Glad to know it isn't just me and that others have had this issue and have fixed it

Thanks for the post

Mine works on left turns when cold but the right one takes forever

Hope that doesnt mean my Interstate is a Democrat

[Hook#3287]

I can't believe this thread is almost a month old and no one has suggested a blinker fluid change.

We must be getting old.

[0leman]

I can't believe this thread is almost a month old and no one has suggested a blinker fluid change.

We must be getting old.

I thought that changing the blinker fluid was a normal yearly thing.