help for a newbie please!!

hi, I recently bought a 1981 yamaha xj650h maxim. The front turn signals weren't working correctly so i took apart the left hand controls and everything looks perfect. So I decided to check the connections behind the headlight. When I pulled the headlight out and went to check the connections i noticed that there weren't any! So I bought turn signals from a motorcycle grave yard and installed them. They light up perfect, but the right side blinks but the left side doesn't. The have brand new bulbs in them and I also had the relay checked at my local Yamaha shop and they said it was in good working condition. Could some one please show me a diagram or a picture so i can make sure I have these turn signals wired correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is the only thing that is keeping me from being road ready@

Thanks in advance, Rann

 

Welcome, just a quick check, are the bulbs all the same wattage in all 4, and are the bulb holders clean?

Also, you could make sure all wiring (particularly ground) connections are good clean/tight too. To me if the right are fine & left not it sounds like a slightly bad connection not drawing the correct current on the left side.

P.S. Have you read BigFitz's brake de-lamination thread, old brake hose /& tyre date code threads? (links below in my sig, very much worth looking at if you're new to XJ's)

Again welcome aboard, best of luck with your new bike

 

I've been through all the connections and they are shiny and clean and I check the voltage on my power and ground wires and im getting 12.4 volts to them. I just don't understand what is going on with them. This is my first motorcycle and from the amount of time that I have ridden it (in the parking lot of a local elementary school) it is alot of fun and I love it!! I appreciate you welcoming me to the forum. My request to join just got improved but I've been getting some really useful info from the users of this sight!

 

Just another thought, are you testing with the engine running? These bikes don't start to charge the battery till about 2000rpm IIRC & slightly low voltage could cause non-flashing too. And the "idiot lights" on the panel are working correctly for both sides?

You'll find this forum's one of the better ones out there for anything, in terms of members willingness to help & certain members write ups on such things as carb cleaning and other niceties!

Oh and another simple check, simple/free things first of course!... if you swap the bulbs right to left, it's not common but not unknown for new bulbs to be out of spec a little...

 

I haven't switched the bulbs. I'll try that first thing in the morning. I have had it running when I have been trying to get them to work. I haven't had it around 2000 rpms though. I'll have to give that a try too

 

Cool, like I say, easy/cheap/free stuff first eh. On my old CX500 the generator dropped out at about the same & the indicators used to stay on then, more one side than another for some reason! Strange, but it did... :?

Like I mentioned in my first post though, the safety stuff is the most important to get 100% before you ride anyhow as you want to keep her (and you) looking all shiny and undamaged.

OK for tomorrow I'd suggest order of play as far as signals go as

Engine running & warmed a bit, indicators on, blip throttle to 2500-3000 revs to ensure charging.

Check panel lights working for both sides & correct sides

Check fuse box (if it's old glass fuses, the clips can disintegrate with no external sign until you touch them. Most people change to blade fuses before it happens)

Switch bulbs

Double re-check wiring/bulb holders just in case something was hiding :lol:

I'm sure by that time others will have had some ideas too but for now I'm hoping one of these will fix it

 

Thank you so much for all the help. I truly appreciate it!!!

 

No worries, that's what the forums are here for. By the way, I put fuse box pretty low down on that list, Even if the indicators work by then I'd say it's a very good idea to check/replace it anyway just in case it is still the nasty old glass fuse type.

 

May sound stupid but my 82 mxm750j did the same thing.I bought a new flasher(under the tank between the frame)cause the original one was full of water so im sure you all know what it looked like after 5 years so i intalled an electronic ne that had 4 prongs.They still didnt work checked wiring and for some reason i decided to put in an old 3 prong flasher and they both came to life flashing away and have done so ever since.

 

I actually replaced the fuse box and fuses the day that i got the bike. The fuse box was torn up and missing 2 of the 4 fuses it needed, and they weren't even the right size fuses. The previous owner had also put car oil in the bike and also over filled it and I don't think the air filter or the oil filter had been changed since the bike rolled out of the factory in 1981! So right after the fuse box was changed I took off the carbs and did a thorough cleaning on them and made sure all the jets and mixture screws were at the right settings. I also synced my carbs and did a full service on the bike. People ignorance amazes me sometimes!!!!

 

Good to hear you're off to a good start. Remember these classic bikes were only in the last 5-10 years just "old cheap bikes" and still are to some extent & hence get the abuse that goes with it... Unfortunately, since they're a great machine & ahead of their time in a lot of ways.

Good call on the flasher, if nothing free works that'd be the next port of call (maybe carefully open it & inspect/clean contacts if dirty before buying replacement?)

 

I see more and more of that in my shop nowadays...its sad, i try to educate them as best i can but some just dont care or think "its Japanese it'll never die!" lol

Anyways looks like ya'll got this thread under control, electrical stuff can be so confusing sometimes but usually its something simple lol

 

Remember, front and rear lamps are on the same circuit. It could be the lamp in the left rear that isn't drawing enough power to trip the flasher.

 

Already advised to try swapping right to left bulbs if exciting the alternator doesn't help

It's gotta be *something* simple like this huh, I've read some about swapped wires but IIRC that caused only one side to ever light up

 

IT'S ALIVE!!!!! I spent hours today switching lightbulbs and changing relaya and changing connections and then it dawned on me. My headlights are on, the right side is blinking, and the back light on the left side is getting brighter when i turn on the left blinker on so it must be between my blinker and the connections in the headlight bucket....so I took out my blinker and wouldnt ya know...the switch wire connected to the blinker was broken off at the base of theblinker!!! So after A little bit of cursing myself for being so stupid and not checking in the first place and a few minutes of soldering...ITS WORKING!!!! I want to thank all you guys for helping me out with all of the useful information. It is truly appreciated!!!

 

Dang you fixed it before I could opine. I had the very same issue when I extended my blinkers to make way for 1/4 fairing. I was about go crazy because they worked fine before. Turned out one of the + wires on a single blinker was pinched and grounding out and created a whole myriad of crazy blinking situations depending on which way I hooked up the bucket wires!!! Not to mention blowing fuses.

Electrical problems are SO much fun....when you solve them.

 

Haha, it was so confusing. Every time I would rearrange the bucket wires the lights would all go crazy and I went through about 3 or 4 fuses!!! I appreciate the help. I just hope this thread can help somebody in the same situation, or that now I can advise someone else with the little bit of knowledge that I have from reading about the bike. I took it out on the street for the first time today and it road like a dream. I never expected a 32 year old bike to ride and shift this smooth but it was amazing. I am definitely hooked on XJ's now.

 

IF the wiring is checked-out and correct.
The Original Fuse Panel ::: Replaced.
Juice getting to all the Bulb Sockets with Spring-loaded Bases making contact and not contaminated with grease.
All the Bulbs good.
Flasher checked-out. Cool.

You might have a Low Voltage condition.
Check your Alternator Brushes and Charging Current.
10mm or less = Replace.

Charging Voltage at the Battery:
+14.2 ~ 14.5V at 2000 rpm's and above.