How to clean up a turn signal switch?

[cmyoch]

I saw in a post somewhere a turn by turn process of cleaning up and restoring a turn signal switch with photos included. I've tried the search function and cannot find it. Can anyone help?

[ShakerNorm]

It's all a mechanical system, cymoch - so if you take it apart, just take lots of digital pics for reference to put it back together.

Unfortunately, when I did mine this spring, I didn't take any photos....... but it DOES work a whole lot better. I even removed the self-canceling setup in it (since it didn't work anyway!).

[xsleo]

If I recall right there is a tiny ball and spring in there. If you are careful you won't lose them. Once apart clean the contacts. If any wires are loose or broke off resolder them.
Good to go.

[cmyoch]

Well, cleaning the switch was a success. I had one wire loose which explains why my tail light was flickering when riding. I soldered it and put everything back together. Now I have a new dilemma, my headlight dimmer switch snapped as I was putting everything back together. I haven't seen a fix for this anywhere in the forums. I'd hate to spend a bunch of money on a replacement switch to rob the dimmer from or a brand new one. Does anyone have any ideas?

Also, when I went to test the switch, my lights wouldn't blink. I assume my battery may be low on juice which isn't enough to run the flasher. Thoughts?

[ShakerNorm]

Cmyoch - I expect you're right about the flasher. If the battery doesn't have enough power - it can't make the mechanical reed switch warm up enough to flash on and off. You also have to have the EXACT bulbs that the manual calls for.... Yeah - it's a finicky system.....

I swapped over to LED's - but then I had to buy a different flasher unit (all electronic and rated for LED's) to make it work, too.

[xsleo]

The LED lights are great. Low current draw, very bright.
The turn signals draw more current than the headlight. The low beam draws 40 watts, high is 50. The turns are 27 watts each so they draw 54 plus 3 watts for the indicator bulb. Thats 57 watts.
The LED's draw some where around .45 watts each. Or is it .045. not sure now. even at .45 thats 3.9 watts versus 57 watts. That saves 3.5 amps each time they flash.
You might find a switch on ebay reasonable and just swap the whole switch as easy as swapping just the headlight switch.

[tomterrific]

"...my headlight dimmer switch snapped... "

I've had this happen twice with the standard Yamaha switch. For my XS I sucked it up and bought a new switch from mikesxs. It seems these are good parts. For my SR500, I have been using the stub. The stub is a clear plastic so maybe it is acrylic or styrene. I may try model glue or even see if I can shape a new piece but the best and easiest way is just buy a new switch for $45.

Tom Graham

[cmyoch]

I'm going to have to suck it up and get a new switch. I debated purchasing a used one off of ebay but I don't want to have to deal with this issue again in the near future with a used switch. For some reason, I cannot get my rear right tail light to work. I'll have to start tracing wires. I plan on doing the switch, wire the rear light and probably replace the flasher all at once. Electrical stuff is so aggravating!

[ShakerNorm]

Nov 17, 2010 9:16:50 GMT -5 cmyoch said:

Electrical stuff is so aggravating!

I hear ya on that one - I got so aggravated that I replaced the whole wiring harness on my bike.... and STILL found more crap!