Aftermarket turn signals

I recently bought 4 12v aftermarket turn signals and upon installation the signals do not cycle on and off, they just stay on when trying to signal. Why would this be and how can i go about fixing it??

 

This is one of the most asked questions on this site. The stock flasher needs the current draw of the stock bulbs in order to operate. You will need to replace it with and electronic unit made for the lower draw aftermarket signals (you will loose the self cancel unless you wire in an extra relay) or wire in resistors to increase the load on the system. When wiring in the new flasher you may need to swap some wires in the connector for it to work.

 

How would i figure out what size resistors i need? The current stock wattage of the signals is 12v/27w. The aftermarket signals are 12v but i am unaware of the wattage, how can I test for that and once I get the wattage of the aftermarket signals do I wire in a resistor that matches the wattage difference of the two?

 

No idea I went with an electronic flasher and a relay to keep my self cancel. I was putting leds on my bike with energy savings in mind and resistors would have defeated the point. Have a look around the site I know others have gone the resistor route. Also give us some more info on your new signals(led, bulb,...)

 

Easy measure the resistance of the old bulbs. Then buy right size resistors. You will want to try and put some kind of heat sink on them because the resistors get quite hot. I put resistors on mine and encased them in heat shrink tubing. After about 30 second with the flasher on they burned right through the tubing. I now have mine wire tied with wire to the bike frame for heat dissipation. But personally,,, I am going to eventually get a standard flasher relay and git rid of the resistors because all of that heat is just wasted energy.

 

I'm guessing you have bought LED turn signals? if so you will need to buy a LED flasher relay about 20$ and 20$ for the install at your local motorcycle shop or you can figure it out on your own the old flasher is located under your gastank if you want to just install it yourself.

 

If they are LED signals, you have some work to do.

If they are bulb-type signals, see if you can simply replace the bulbs with automotive 1156's (27W) which are the original type.

Remember that if you end up replacing the flasher relay you will lose the self-cancelling feature unless you do some serious re-engineering.

 

They are LED signals ebay.com The old bulbs measured 2ohms. So are 2 ohm resistors what i need?, and further more how would i find the wattage of the new led signals?

 

most of those use something like a .06W bulb so yours are likely about .6 watts total. As far as the resistors you need to add 2 ohms to the system for each bubl removed so you can use 2 2Ohm per side or 1 4 ohm per side.

 

Forget the resistor idea you simply buy an LED flasher relay that replaces your factory flasher relay it has resistors and a flasher unit built into it simple easy job there like 20 bucks. also it will work just like the factory one I just finished doing it on my own bike. 1982 seca 650

 

I picked up a variable load relay from advance auto as another person did in another post who said it worked well, and tried it out to see it it would work. So far it kind of does, as it makes the headlight and tail light blink instead of the blinkers. I know I'm not messing up any wires as there are only 3, positive, indicator and lamp. Why would it make the headlight blink?? As for an aftermarket LED relay, would something like this be applicable?Custom LEDs

 

NOT if it cost you the self-cancelling feature.

 

i have a 83 XJ 550 i'm new to bikes and want some LED turn signals .. now if I went to the led flasher how would I wire it in and by self canceling do you mean the shut them off you push in the button or do they auto shut off themself's

 

auto cancel turns them off after a set time/distance duration. all you have to do to wire in a led flasher is possibly switch some wires in the bike side of the connector that the stock flasher plugged into.

 

ok so how do I go about finding witch wires to change out when wiring the led flasher ????