Turn Signal Flasher

[bul_racer]

Trying to get lighting working on my 1980 XS650SG. Wiring is not in great shape. I might try replacing the wiring harnesses but I already feel like I'm in over my head. I find wiring diagrams baffling. Anyway, fiddling around with the turn signal switch and at one point I started hearing a strange noise which I finally determined to be the 3 prong flasher relay. It seemed to be stuck in overdrive, continuously cycling on and off.

I read that a low battery might cause this so I put it on the charger and now the battery is 14+. I don't currently have either front turn signal connected as I bought replacements but have not connected them yet. The bike has been sitting for a while and I'm trying to determine which wires I need to connect the turn signals to. I don't think the bike needs to be running for them to work. Saw some posts showing how to test the flasher relay by connecting it directly to the battery. There was a YouTube video. I did this and the result was the same strange cycling noise. Is this telling me that my flasher relay is fried? Sorry, I'm not good at electrical stuff. I can find my way around household wiring but when you start adding rectifiers and other funky stuff I get queasy.

If my flasher relay is bad do I need to get an OEM one or is there a viable alternative? I hope this isn't too incoherent.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[gggGary]

Quick flash often means a short.
A common oopsie is cross connecting dark green and black wires in the headlight bucket.
Here's the late model turn signal circuit separated out

 

[Wingedwheel]

https://www.xs650.com/threads/flasher-fault-troubleshoot-flowchart.42200/
The Tech section is our friend. Wiring diagrams may seem daunting but if you can read a roadmap you can figure out the wiring. Take your time, follow one circuit at a time and get familiar with the colors. Ignore the circuits you’re not using as looking at everything as a whole can make it confusing.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Gary beat me to it…

 

[gggGary]

I'll add inside the turn signal switch on the left handle bar are three solder blobs. It's VERY common for one or more of them to separate and that can cause several different issues.

The good news; it's not too hard to resolder them.

 

[bul_racer]

https://www.xs650.com/threads/flasher-fault-troubleshoot-flowchart.42200/
The Tech section is our friend. Wiring diagrams may seem daunting but if you can read a roadmap you can figure out the wiring. Take your time, follow one circuit at a time and get familiar with the colors. Ignore the circuits you’re not using as looking at everything as a whole can make it confusing.

I get confused on wiring diagrams because sometimes I can't tell if the wires are connecting or just 2 ships passing in the night. Never said I was smart...

 

[bul_racer]

Quick flash often means a short.
A common oopsie is cross connecting dark green and black wires in the headlight bucket.
Here's the late model turn signal circuit separated out
View attachment 370206

Thanks Gary. Yeah, it can be difficult to tell what the original color was supposed to be on a 45 year old motorcycle. This is good info.

I get confused on wiring diagrams because sometimes I can't tell if the wires are connecting or just 2 ships passing in the night. Never said I was smart...

Thanks for the link! That will be very helpful.

 

[bul_racer]

Quick flash often means a short.
A common oopsie is cross connecting dark green and black wires in the headlight bucket.
Here's the late model turn signal circuit separated out
View attachment 370206

So if a quick flash means a short then it follows that my relay is not bad...