Turn Signals don't work

[Leo]

Hi All,

I'm new to the GS Forum having recently acquired a largely restored 1979 GS850G (but I did have a 1977 GS750 from 1977 to 1981).

Anyway, I got the bike and the turn signals worked but the auto cancel feature did not (which didn't bother me). Now two weeks later the signals don't work at all. I checked the fuse box but no problems there. Any ideas of what might have failed and if there's an easy (hopefully) fix? I don't own a multimeter (yet) but do have the Clymer manual and will go through the tests when I get a multimeter. If it does turn out to be the signal control unit I'd like to explore other options if possible since from reading posts on this forum that the 1979 version is known to be problematic and expensive. I would be interested in successful aftermarket replacements that people are happy with and am not concerned with the auto cancel feature.

Thank you all very much for your assistance.

Leo

[tkent02]

It's hard to do much without a meter. It does not need to be expensive for our purposes here. HF sells one for about $8 that works fine. Their $2 one worked for a while but didn't last very long for me.
How do you know the problem isn't in the fuse box if you have no meter?
Have you checked the grounds? The switch? All connectors in the circuit? Probably not the bulbs if they all quit at once but it could be.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Have you tried a new flasher ? Very common for the 79 TS control box of that Vintage to fail.. When that happens you need to re wire and convert to manual turn signals

[Guest]

The "aftermarket replacements" are known to us as modifying the wiring, or bypassing.
Most likely the 1st Generation Turn Signal Control Unit (TSCU) crapped out,
but usually only one side goes, might better check your fuses.

See post 4 in this tread for troubleshooting procedures.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=209933

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

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Help! Your Bike Won't Start
DON'T DO THESE THINGS
Help! Your Bike Won't Run Well
Oh God! Pods!


Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[eil]

Have you cleaned all of the electrical connections? This takes some time but very often cures a wide variety of electrical gremlins.

For instance, my turn signals didn't work at all until I did it.

[Leo]

Thanks for the advice, will buy a multimeter and check things out, clean connections and will let you all know how it goes. Thanks again

[Leo]

I haven't got my multimeter yet, but I did buy some Detoxit and cleaned all of the electrical connections under both side covers and the fuse connections and my turn signals are working fine now. Thanks for the recommendations!

[Guest]

I haven't got my multimeter yet, but I did buy some Detoxit and cleaned all of the electrical connections under both side covers and the fuse connections and my turn signals are working fine now. Thanks for the recommendations!

But........... (there's always a but!) does the self canceling feature work?
Just curious.

[Leo]

No, the self cancelling doesn't work. Also, I've found that the turn signals work fine for about the first 20 minutes of riding and then don't work at all. Then the next time I use the bike they work fine again for a short amount of time. thoughts??