1980 XS400 Turn Signal Gremlin

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ctindog

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I just bought a 1980 xs400. The left turn signal was not working when I bought it, but the right was. The other day, while riding, I tried the left turn signal again, it still didn't work. The next turn was a right, and the signal stopped working. I got home and found the front right turn signal bulb was burnt out. I replaced the bulb and the right turn signals worked again. I tried the left, and then the front right and the right bulb was again burnt out? I don't understand how this could be, or how to trace down this short. I have a multimeter but no real electrical know how. Can anyone throw me a life preserver? Thanks, Ctindog.
 
Have checked the wires going through the stems to bulbs on the front or rear?.1 wire connected to the bulb holder and the ground goes through the stem bolt which has a round metal connector that the bolt tightens onto.Could be one of those wires are shorted there.Also underneath the back of the seat wires from the harness that connect to the lights.
 

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Here are some pics. 1980 with 8400 original miles when I bought it a week ago.
 

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Thanks, I think it's beautiful! Have had no time to work on turn signals, but have the next few days off. Today when I started it up, the rear right turn signal was on solid, I touched the signal switch and the light went of... I am thinking grounding from short? maybe dust in switch? As far as luck, my Camaro blew up Thursday, and my KZ440 still ain't running right after a month and a half of ownership. The Yamaha was definitely a lucky find and a great commuter. I am planning on keeping her until the end!:thumbsup:
 
Other than the other advice take your flasher relay and check the connections on the plug also could be the flasher canceler relay.I haven't had the time to work on my issues either.Truck over heated on my yesterday and I had to have the radiator fixed.Then had a doctors appointment today which took most of day.
 
It could be the connections inside the actual switch. These cause issues for many people. And when they are loose and bouncing around things will sometimes work, sometimes not, sometimes cause a short, etc.
 
If one bulb burns out the other one won't flash anymore, it will just stay on. They have separate circuits, but are toggled by the same flasher relay which needs a certain load over it to switch on. Eliminating the load from one bulb (the burnt one) will make the load over the relay too small for it to 'notice' the current. Same thing happens when switching to halogen or LED bulbs.
 
I'm late to the party but just had success with mine. I found wires broken off of the turn signal switch. There were bad solder joints so I re soldered the wires. Then I checked the connections and sockets. I had 1 socket that was rusted cleaned that up and they all work. Good luck!!!
 
Good Deal! I was just trimming my spark plug wires to see if I could get my coil to go and noticed that the idle (?)pilot (?) screw is missing from my left carb! it's the one on the top of the carb. Anyone know what this thing is called and where I can get one? Thanks.
 
ctindog said:
Good Deal! I was just trimming my spark plug wires to see if I could get my coil to go and noticed that the idle (?)pilot (?) screw is missing from my left carb! it's the one on the top of the carb. Anyone know what this thing is called and where I can get one? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've got trouble. If it's the one I'm thinking of it's an Idle adjustment needle. Don't remember what year your bike is but if it's 80& up those needles were factory adjusted and then capped off with an aluminum or brass plug. If that needle is missing how does it run?? It'd be really crappy if at all on that cyl. brouse some of the ads on this site and try Craigs list. I lucked out and found a clean set of carbs from a modified 78? 360 that fit the bill for 40.00. Good luck
 

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