TURN SIGNALS

[WDAN]

Need some advice.
My blinkers quit today.
When I push switch to signal left turn, there is no blinking but the left front signal light is dark as long as switch is engaged. Light will come back on when I move switch back to center (off) position.
The same behavior when I signal for right turn.

My rear lights are mounted in my Beetle bags and they are not blinking either.
Does this indicate my flasher is out?

Thanks,

[R J]

I would check the insidee of the switch 1st.      Mine did that once a long long time ago.    I tore it apart in a Motel parking lot.   The metal tab was not touching the needed post when doing a signal.

Bent it up a little bit and was good to go.   Still works  to this day I might add.

[SideCar]

Guessing you have checked the bulbs, but if not, you'll want to do that, especially if your right signals are working.

[RainMaker]

I'm thinking the switch is dirty. Try spraying some contact cleaner in (I use the stuff from RadioShack) before tearing it apart. It sounds like the ground wire is not connected to me, but I'm hardly an expert.

[Joevalk]

Refill your blinker fluid :evil

[SideCar]

Unfortunately, everything is guessing until the basics are checked.  At this point, we don't know whether it is only one side is malfunctioning, but I'm sure Danny is checking basics and will report back. 

Reminds me that I need to clean and lubricate my turn signal switch as it is sticking.  Of course, I also need to mount saddle bags, change coolant and mount my new aux fuel tank.  This would be a good day for that if I were in town and it weren't Sunday.

[godfire]

Ok this is embarrassing , cause I hardly NEVER agree with Joevalk (football related) .... and I mostly agree with Sidecar, but WDAN stated, "The same behavior when I signal for right turn." This clearly indicates either a very low blinker fluid  , or a bad flasher relay .... The valk uses a three wire flasher, but a two wire can be made to work (with proper blinker fluid!) 
BTW newer two wire flasher relays are usually much more LED friendly.....   
Good Luck WDAN and keep us posted.....

[Tinman]

Need some advice.
My blinkers quit today.
When I push switch to signal left turn, there is no blinking but the left front signal light is dark as long as switch is engaged. Light will come back on when I move switch back to center (off) position.
The same behavior when I signal for right turn.

My rear lights are mounted in my Beetle bags and they are not blinking either.
Does this indicate my flasher is out?

Thanks,

When this happened to mine it was just the left side doing this. Took the switch apart be very mindful of the small springs. Clean the old hardened factory grease out with contact cleaner and a small screw driver. Then lightly greased with dielectric grease no more problem.

[WDAN]

Thinking back 2-3 weeks ago, I was  getting ready to turn left at a stop light and when I activated blinker switch, it did not respond and I remember thinking "Oh crap, my turn signals are not working". but after a longer than normal delay, it started blinking. I think this also happened another time after this.
So, I am leaning toward switch malfunction and I like Rainmaker's suggestion about spraying switch with contact cleaner. I will drop by Radio Shack and pick up a can. (easier, softer way first. Right?

[brew1brew]

I'd put my $$ on the relay being bad.

But I was rooting for the 49'ers, so what do I know? 

[Baron]

I am having the same problem    .  Where is the relay located?

[WDAN]

19-20 in PDF manual.; page 428.

Remove seat and left side cover and overflow tank without removing siphon tube. Remove stay on battery box.

[Baron]

Dan,

Where is the PDF manual?

[HayHauler]

Here you go Baron. 

http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html

Hay
Jimmyt

[WDAN]

What is involved in getting to the turn signal switch?
Looks like two screws on bottom half of clam shell but it appears the choke lever will not permit shell from coming apart.

[Baron]

Thanks!  That has some good info on that link.

[Valkpilot]

Here's what I think (with apologies to Godfire.)

I can't remember hearing about a Valkyrie flasher relay that actually went bad.  But, sometimes my hearing ain't so good.

That said, if it were me, I'd do the following in this order:

• Double-check that all the bulbs are working.  I'd do this by getting a new one and swapping it with the existing bulbs, one at a time in turn, to see if any there was any change in the state of things.  (Actually, I'd probably just change them all for new and throw the old ones in the saddlebag for emergency use.) Don't worry about any LEDs, they are probably not themselves the problem.
• Clean the turn signal switch.  At first, I wouldn't even dismantle it.  I'd just squirt WD-40 or contact cleaner in there and work it, work it, work it, baby, until it either helps or convinces you it's not the problem.  (GF, my money is on the switch being full of ossified dielectric grease.)
• Check the flasher connections.  If my recollector is in working order, we put either a heavy duty or variable-load flasher on your bike to cure a fast-blink issue because of the LEDs in the rear signals.
• Check for a bad ground.  I'm especially suspicious of the signal lights in the Beetle Bags.  If someone used a vampire tap to connect to the bike's wiring, it could well have cut a wire in half.  (Saw this happen on JC's bike on connections done by a Dealer "professional.")  But, the fact that you do get the light to come back on when you release the switch tends to rule this out.
• Spit on the ground, kick the dirt, and actually dismantle the switch to make sure all the contacts are contacting.
• Replace the flasher. I'm pretty sure I've got a spare OEM flasher kicking around, if that's what you're still using.

I think this covers all the high-probability causes, most of which have already been suggested.  I'm just wired (HA!) to arrange things in steps according to (my opinion of) liklihood.


Ah...wait a minute.  You don't have a Kisan Signal-Minder, do you?  They will also cause the described behavior when they are going bad.

[WDAN]

Here's what I think (with apologies to Godfire.)

I can't remember hearing about a Valkyrie flasher relay that actually went bad.  But, sometimes my hearing ain't so good.

That said, if it were me, I'd do the following in this order:

• Double-check that all the bulbs are working.  I'd do this by getting a new one and swapping it with the existing bulbs, one at a time in turn, to see if any there was any change in the state of things.  (Actually, I'd probably just change them all for new and throw the old ones in the saddlebag for emergency use.) Don't worry about any LEDs, they are probably not themselves the problem.
• Clean the turn signal switch.  At first, I wouldn't even dismantle it.  I'd just squirt WD-40 or contact cleaner in there and work it, work it, work it, baby, until it either helps or convinces you it's not the problem.  (GF, my money is on the switch being full of ossified dielectric grease.)
• Check the flasher connections.  If my recollector is in working order, we put either a heavy duty or variable-load flasher on your bike to cure a fast-blink issue because of the LEDs in the rear signals.
• Check for a bad ground.  I'm especially suspicious of the signal lights in the Beetle Bags.  If someone used a vampire tap to connect to the bike's wiring, it could well have cut a wire in half.  (Saw this happen on JC's bike on connections done by a Dealer "professional.")  But, the fact that you do get the light to come back on when you release the switch tends to rule this out.
• Spit on the ground, kick the dirt, and actually dismantle the switch to make sure all the contacts are contacting.
• Replace the flasher. I'm pretty sure I've got a spare OEM flasher kicking around, if that's what you're still using.

I think this covers all the high-probability causes, most of which have already been suggested.  I'm just wired (HA!) to arrange things in steps according to (my opinion of) liklihood.


Ah...wait a minute.  You don't have a Kisan Signal-Minder, do you?  They will also cause the described behavior when they are going bad.

I'll be darn! Took your first piece of advice, sprayed WD40 into switch housing and worked switch back and forth and, SHAZAM! All blinkers working fine.
I never get out this easy on motorcycle issues.
Going to buy some lottery tickets.

Thanks Valkpilot. My debt to you has risen again.
Rainmaker, You are the first to mention this so a tip of my helmet to you also.

[Baron]

Well I tried the WD-40 and no luck  .  I will start with the list and work my way through it.

[Mofla]

as for me WD it was the switch, after changing out relay  ,,,,,,,,seems their were mutiple problems, some being old gummy grease not letting small contacts slide and at some point seems like
their was a over heating inside that changed plastic housing configuration. I little work with small file, some new die grease and its working like a champ !!! Good luck !!!
Mo

[franco6]

well shucks is my $o.o2. the rear light bulb was getting too hot and melting one of the post , not making good contact. only after changing the whole switch and checking the bulbs (they all worked)
did I remember it had already did the same once before! who sa getting old!

[Big Ed]

Clean switch box like Rainmaker said.
Worked for me last winter and needing to it again.
You'd be surprised with the road dirt that accumulates in there.
Ed..

[Baron]

I took the switch apart and now I am having an issue getting the cover to line up properly  .  Is there something I need to look for or be aware of when putting it back together?

[Baron]

Well I tried everything except the relay.     I checked the bulbs, the connections, and the switch and no luck getting my turn signals to work.  ???

VP if you still have that relay I would be interested in trying it? 

[Valkpilot]

Well I tried everything except the relay.     I checked the bulbs, the connections, and the switch and no luck getting my turn signals to work.  ???

VP if you still have that relay I would be interested in trying it? 

I've got it if you want it.

Just curious, do your brake lights and horn work?