KZ 440LTD signal lights

[Stoogefan]

Evening all. Once again, I must pick the brains of the Kawi universe .....

A few weeks ago, I picked up an '81 KZ440 LTD for my wife (her first bike ..
Got it thru the safety check and she's on the road learning to ride.
Today, I attempted to switch out the signal lights. She wants something a bit smaller ... a little more modern. Both old and new signals are 2-wire, single filament bulb lights. Nothing is LED, etc. Just plain old 12v ... everything the old girl should like.
The new signals don't flash. They light just fine, but no flash. I tried reversing the wires. I tried just the two front alone, then the two back by themselves, then all four.
Finally, I just re-installed the originals so she can ride for now ..... they work just fine.

Any ideas ?

[ghostler]

Jeff, the bulbs probably don't draw enough electrical current for the standard OEM flasher relay to work. Change out the flasher relay for one that is heavy duty, rated for all bulbs ought to work. Down side is then, if a bulb burns out, it will still flash.

[Stoogefan]

Thanks George. That was my next idea.
I went to my local parts place yesterday and bought a 12v flasher relay for a car, but I haven't had time to switch it out yet.
I'll be sure to let you know the outcome ... the wife will either be happy, or not .. LOL

[Thud300]

If I recall, the old heavy duty flasher was a #552.

[ghostler]

The 552 is an age old stand by and is cheap.

I've even used a 3 prong flasher. Caveat is they are wired a little different. One pin is for the indicator lamp, which is unused for a 2 pin situation. One can't connect those directly to the motorcycle 2 pin connector, pinout is wrong. I ended up making a short jumper adapter with a short piece of 16 gauge wire, female spade on one end, male spade on the other. Then routed the motorcycle connector to the correct 3 prong pins, it worked. I used 3 prong on both to my 1971 Honda CB100 and my 1986 Suzuki LS650 Savage. (OEM motorcycle flashers were expensive.)

One can make use of the unused indicator lamp pin on a 3 pin flasher. Back in 1980, I bought an inexpensive but loud Radio Shack piezo buzzer rate at 6 - 8 volts on the CB100, double stick taped it to the frame near the flasher under the left cover. 6 volt turn indicator lamp on the speedometer are hard to see in daylight. I had a habit of leaving the flasher on, CB100 turn switch doesn't have auto cancel. Loud beep at a stop reminded me to turn signals off. (Bikes use an ingenious wiring method to use a 2 prong flasher to flash a single turn indicator lamp.)

Another caveat to using auto flashers is coming up with a way to mount to frame. Motorcycle one has a rubber mount that slides onto a welded sheet metal tang on the frame. I've used a short piece of 5/8" auto heater hose, hooked over the tang and nylon wire tied the flasher to it. In some cases, especially under the tank there is not much clearance, OEM fit does a better job. On a naked bike jury rigging to get the clearances needed sometimes posses a slight unslightliness that is difficult to mitigate. The Savage was such a bike. I finally replaced my improvised setup with an Emgo aftermarket.

[Stoogefan]

All is well with the 440 .... picked up the $6.00 2-pin relay at the local parts store and we're good to go. Wife is happy again

Thanks for all the help folks, as usual.