Aftermarket turn signals won't blink...! Why?

I got an 81 Maxim 550.

I installed a new headlight and turn signals on the front end...and everything worked great! Everything on both front and rear of the bike lit up and blinked like they were supposed to. But as soon as I went to the back to change the other two turn signals, I hooked them up to test them, and they wouldn't blink. Both front and back would light up but wouldnt blink.

Any idea why this happens and how to fix it?

 

Are they LED?

 

They are not drawing enough current. If they are LED this is why.

If they are incandescent, the bulbs are too small. They need 27 watt bulbs in each to work well.

 

They are not LED. Ill try and post a pic of what I got in a sec.

 

So, should I just buy new bulbs before I try a relay or resistor? Not sure if thats what I need at all. I know nothing about electrics.

 

Here's what I got.

 

Pull a bulb out. The wattage should be stamped in the base unless it's a real cheapy Chinese bulb. If not high enough wattage then you will need to swap them out. Adding resisters is for LED, doing do to incandescent bulbs will result in a dimmer light.

 

Do they have amber bulbs? Not sure white turn signals are legal, at least in my state.

Try to find higher watt bulbs but hope they don't melt the lense.

 

They are probably 24W bulbs. 27W is more better.

 

Yes. Just barely visible in the first pic.

 

IIRC I had a similar problem. I think I bought 3 way light. Had to return them and get 2 way lights.

 

Awesome. Thanks guys! Yeah there is an amber bulb in the housing. I opened it up and it was stamped saying it was a 23 watt. I'll start looking around for a 27 watt bulb that fits. Any tips on how to look/find such a bulb? I was going to check some auto part stores and maybe the bike shop down the street.

 

If your local auto parts store doesn't have them, Amazon will.

 

Oh yeah, I love Amazon. I have Prime and thats where I buy most of my things. Im having trouble find either the right type of bulb, or ones that tell the wattage and if its 27w. I think also looking for an amber bulb is making it a bit more tricky too.

 

try ebay

 

Post a pic of the bulb, brand and number on it.

It would be jury rigged but is there room in the housing to solder in a 4 watt bulb in parallel?

 

Return them if you can. Get some different ones that are correct. Save you some$$$ to. Unless you really like those ones

 

Returning the housing because the bulb is of a lower wattage will get him another housing with another underwatt bulb. Almost everything that isn't LED is sold with 23 or 24 watt bulbs anymore. IF it weren't for the funky (but cool) signal relay for the auto-cancel he could just swap in a different signal realy and be done.

 

buy a brand name replacment bulb.
the blinker bulbs run in parallel to ground.

easiest fix would be an adjustable after market relay the ones that will run led or standard bulbs

 

Is the bike running, or not, when you're doing this? Many of the XJ's won't blink unless the bike is running, and the rpms are a little bit above idle

 

Hmm....didn't know that. I'll try it.

 

A marginal battery can also cause blinkers to not work unless revving the engine. However, using proper wattage (27w) bulbs solved this issue for me.