Graham
Hits the TON !
The Devil made me do it!
Posts: 140
|
Post by Graham on Jan 13, 2009 13:56:19 GMT 1
anybody got any ideas please? theyve been working fine,I fitted a powerbronze fairing and lengthened all the wireing and everythins been working fine,till the other day,disaster! none of the indicators are working! i checked the fuse and all the bulbs and all ok. I took the fairing off to check all the wires,all ok,nothin moved or come away,so im a bit stumped! the relay clicks once as i rurn indicator on but no bulbs illuminate then clicks again as i turn them off. any help much appreciated!
|
|
|
Post by Hubcap on Jan 13, 2009 14:00:15 GMT 1
Sounds like a bad earth or somethin that I think, not great on electrickery. Could it be the switch unit? Or maybe the relay on it's way out of its only clicking once when you turn teh switch on and once when you turn it off. Take a multi metre to it n see what happens.
|
|
Graham
Hits the TON !
The Devil made me do it!
Posts: 140
|
Post by Graham on Jan 13, 2009 14:11:32 GMT 1
Hubs,it sounds like you know what your lookin for.........get the kettle on im on my way!
|
|
|
Post by Hubcap on Jan 13, 2009 14:16:34 GMT 1
Hahaha, unfortunately that's about as far as I'd know, though on reading your symptoms I'd say it sounds like the relay may be dying.
|
|
|
Post by McF on Jan 13, 2009 15:21:23 GMT 1
If it is affecting all indicators, it must clearly be something common to all. Assuming all other elec-trick-tickle devices are working OK, it pretty much leaves the switch, relay and wiring between as the obvious / only culprits. You're getting a click when switching on, and also when switching off, so this implies to me that your switch and wiring are likely to be working OK, so I'd go straight for the indicator relay. You probably have an electro-mechanical one fitted. If I recall correctly, it's on the inside (closest to the rear shock absorber) of the plastic panel on the right sode of the bike, where the toolkit fits. Remove Right side panel and it's inside there just above the regulator; a sod to get to! This type of indicator relay works by passing current through a wire filament when the relay switch is closed (ie current gets to the bulbs, the filament heats up with the current and bends, opening the relay switch and cutting off the current. The filament cools off, and bends back to it's normal position and closes the relay switch, current passes through again. This all happens pretty quickly and explains why the speed of your indicator flash changes when you blow a bulb, or swap bulbs for a different wattage (like I did when fitting mini indicators). Most car shops will sell a suitable new electronic relay for £10-£20. If you have access to a spare relay (from another bike?) it may be worth establishing this is the cause first by swapping them over. I'm pretty certain this will cure your problem Please report back on progress!
|
|
Graham
Hits the TON !
The Devil made me do it!
Posts: 140
|
Post by Graham on Jan 13, 2009 15:50:45 GMT 1
WOW MCF,IM IMPRESSED! you certantly seem to know your onions! didnt know thats how they worked. I had suspected the relay but before delving in like the praverbial bull in a china shop,i thought id put the question out to see if anybody else had experienced it themselves. I have a spare relay that i bought for the Triumph but didnt need in the end so i will give it a go and report my findings,unfortunatly my bikes in Liverpool so will be going over tomorrow and will try it out(since hubcap wont fix it for me!) thanx for the reply Graham
|
|
|
Post by Hubcap on Jan 13, 2009 16:26:09 GMT 1
If I was in Liverpool I@d offer, but I'm in Manchester, lol! Though Alan and I Are in liverpool this weekend if you need any help you know where his house is!
|
|
|
Post by sickpup on Jan 13, 2009 18:23:29 GMT 1
This type of indicator relay works by passing current through a wire filament when the relay switch is closed (ie current gets to the bulbs, the filament heats up with the current and bends, opening the relay switch and cutting off the current. The filament cools off, and bends back to it's normal position and closes the relay switch, current passes through again. Bi-metallic strip not filament.
|
|
|
Post by Jaz66 on Jan 13, 2009 19:04:51 GMT 1
Total Class.............. ;D Graham, i think this just goes to show how great this forum is I stayed out, i know F all about relays etc, but hubs, McF and Sickup all come in with the goods... Outstanding.
|
|
|
Post by De Graaf van Salland on Jan 13, 2009 21:35:31 GMT 1
You could also try spraying some WD-40 into the switch. It will lubricate the mechanics in the switch, but it will also improve any electrical connections which have to be made. It's only about 5 seconds work: give it a go before you try to find the relais.
(Although I suspect as well that the relais is faulty).
Franklin
|
|
|
Post by McF on Jan 13, 2009 22:56:44 GMT 1
Thanks Graham - I can tell an onion from a beer or a poke in the eye, but not much more!
Sickpup - I stand infected! I was busy doing waiting for a report to print and my mind was elsewhere. Of course a filament is actually the little piece of wire that gets hot and bright inside the bulb. Bimetallic strip is the bit that gets hot and bends.
Hein Gericke £10.99 for a universal electronic relay
There is a school of thought that WD40 is not ideal for spraying onto working components - it can leave a residue which forms a shellac and insulates contact surfaces. There are other purpose made solvent contact sprays which do a better job.
|
|
Graham
Hits the TON !
The Devil made me do it!
Posts: 140
|
Post by Graham on Jan 14, 2009 16:35:44 GMT 1
well gents,the news aint too good today.......booohoooo sob sob sniffle sob,it isnt the relay! still no joy.I did have the switch apart a few months ago,just to clean everythin&lube all the moving parts(inother words it was p*ssing down and i was bored!) so i know all is ok in there,although I did take another peep inside&everythins ok. Tried the new relay and nothin,just the same. Even all the connections and wireing seem to be ok,all the connections have also been cleaned and now so have my hands! All back together and using good old fasioned armsignals for now till i get another bit of time to play with it!...............................watch this space!
|
|
|
Post by De Graaf van Salland on Jan 14, 2009 16:45:23 GMT 1
Perhaps a stupid question: but have you checked the fuse ?
If the relais clicks once, it could also mean that it isn't getting enough voltage. That means a poor contact or ground somewhere. Can you measure the voltage on the relais (ON and OFF) ?
How is the state of your battery ? Can you start the engine and then try again ?
Good luck hunting
Franklin
|
|
|
Post by Hubcap on Jan 14, 2009 16:51:38 GMT 1
If it's not the relay it's gotta be a bad earth, seeing as you've checked the fuse, bulbs and everything else in the system, though bad earths generally pose intermittant problems, unless the wires are starting to rust or something.
|
|
Graham
Hits the TON !
The Devil made me do it!
Posts: 140
|
Post by Graham on Jan 14, 2009 16:59:00 GMT 1
Thanks Franklin,battery is fine,will start the bike and the fuses and connections are ok too,ive even ran a new earth wire into the system but still nothin,think its goin to be a trip to an auto electrician to give him the headache! got that naffed off with it today that i treated myself to a skiing holiday to cheer myself up! as David Essex once sang,"every clouds gota silver lining"! (atleast i dont need indicators on my skiis!
|
|