signals

Has anyone successfully got rid of their stop light and figured out how to use signals for brake light also? Hate the huge brake light on my 650.

 

Brake light must be red, in NY state any way.
Signals can be red or amber.

 

You should probably learn to love that big ugly tail light on your back fender. It's big for a reason. In fact, within reason, the bigger the better. Could you maybe find a design you like better?

The idea of using your rear signals as brake indicators to augment your current fixture would be a great idea. You would need to have two filament fixtures and bulbs, and I bet that one of the gurus already has the circuit you would need. You could also use them for running lights to make yourself even more visible.

 

You would need to convert the lenses to red.

Now your question gives me what I think is a great idea:

The trailer parts section of every auto parts store (and I think the Wal mart type stores too) sells an adapter box that is designed for wiring a trailer with the brake/turn indicator combo lamps to a tow vehicle that has separate indicator lamps.

You could get one of those boxes and use it to convert the signal lamps to signal/stop function.

Then add a brake light modulator to the original brake light. You'd not only have more brake lights but the big center one would have an attention grabbing flash pattern.

 

I'm going to look into this. If the center contact of the turn signals fixture was taken out, and replaced with a dual filament contact you could have marker lights, turn signal , and brake lights on your existing turn signal fixtures. This would be a HUGE improvement on the single tail light we currently have. This should be easy to do by taking the existing contact apart, desoldering the wire to the center contact, and re-drilling the phenolic base for 2 holes and then attaching the wires through these holes and adding a bead of solder at each wire end to contact the bulb.

Would the addition of the running lights upset the charging system as they woud be on all the time. During the turn and braking function there would be minimal impact due to the short illumination time.


What say you gurus?

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Not a guru,

But I say you're on the right track. Since we're talking about a 650 which I don't think has the computer monitor that 750's have, you wouldn't have to worry about any false computer alarms. That means you could replace everything with LED's and greatly reduce the load on the alternator.

 

The only problem with LEDs is the flasher needs the current draw to work.

you can replace the flasher but you lose the canceler - anyway been discussed a ton of times if you are interested in the details

 

You forgot that the ears on a 2 filament bulb are keyed different. Better to just get a socket for an 1157 bulb at the auto parts store, I think you can mount it in.

 

I also dislike the stock light on the Maxim. I don't particularly care for the turn signals either. My solution is this: Tail Light That tail light with: Bags
Those for turn signals.

Now I just have to wait for them to come in the mail, and fab up some brackets for the bags, and a sissy bar and I think I (and others) will be happy with the look.

 

wamaxim, there's going to be a problem someplace
turns + running is ok but brake needs to do both filaments so the turns stop blinking
you will also get front brake lights
i think cars use 2 bulbs

 

I was just looking at a hitch cover/brake light at Schuck's today. It's a big chrome skull with red l.e.d. eyes that light up when braking. That would be sweet, problem is having a taillight when you're not braking. I'm sure something could be worked out, maybe drill out his mouth and put a bunch of l.e.d's in there, you know, if you're going all custom.

 

I wasn't a big fan of my turn signals on my 82' 650 maxim either. I went to my local yamaha shop and got 4 lenses for an XS650 and switched them out. Big improvement! Check it out.