Any good turnsignal mod? Mounting points?

[Arnie]

I took a look at the flasher control unit today (from my spare loom), and the connector has 6 pins, 1 pin,  and another 4 pins.  I don't have any idea WTF they are doing with 11 connections. 

And, I'm now wondering if this spare loom is even the correct one as the Clymer schematics show a 3 pin flasher unit for both the US and UK versions of the '91-93 bikes.

I had expected (yeah, I know  ) that it would be a "normal" automotive 3 pin device even if the connector had been changed.  Perhaps the earlier bikes' flasher relay black box also contained the logic controls for the auto-canceling of the turn indicators.  Sorry.

[FeralRdr]

I was hoping to get a hold of my old factory '86-'87 supplementary FJ1200 service manual to confirm this info, but I've had no luck contacting the new owner.  When I installed Randy's L.E.D. Taillight w/integrated turn signals I actually looked into installing a digital flasher relay but ran into this same issue.  If I recall correctly, the supplemental manual has a couple of wiring diagrams in it; one of which is a more detailed break down of the 'Relay Assembly'.  What many people think is the 'Flasher Relay' is actually a larger assembly consisting of 3 sub components (at least on 86 & 87's): the flasher relay itself, the turn signal self canceling unit, and another relay (not sure what it services, I just assumed some of the other electronics or lights).  I do recall the diagram showing that only two or three of the wires going into the large connector were for the flasher relay.  When I identified these, I considered cutting them and soldering in a digital relay, but wasn't sure if disconnecting those wires from the relay assembly would affect any of the other components.  I assumed that it would disable the self canceling unit, as there was a circuit that ran from the flasher relay to it.  What I wasn't sure is weather that would affect the other component of the relay assembly.  Also, I really didn't want to hack into my wiring harness just to find out that I was going to have to repair it, in the event the digital relay didn't work.  I'm still trying to get a hold of the new owner, and borrow the manual back to confirm this info.  However, I don't know how long it may take.

[keand3]

Yes, all those pins dosn't make any sence... Why do they need all those pins and wires running thru a "simple" flasher relay? Turns out not so simple after all?  

Non of those i have discussed this with have any clue why how our what...  What was that japanese engineer thinking of when he mad the bike back in the 80s?

I think i will order a led relay, and strip of those 3 wires needed and see how it goes. This issue needs to be addressed sooner or later,  i mean those OEM flashers dosn't get any cheaper as time pass by nor become any more for that matter. Has there ever been made a good replacement unit for the  OEM  flasher?

In my Haynes manual the diagram shows several wires entering that relay to, but no break down of the relay itself. It sure would be nice to know what those others wires did in the. Just passing through? It sure would be my guess.

I didn't get the time to look at the flasher relay after work yesterday but try again today (have to commute 2h to work then 2h back home until june) . Have seen led flasher relay replacement for the OEM for the 91 to 93, but non for the 86 or 87.


Cheers
Ken

[Pat Conlon]

Just a guess but, self canceling turn signals has a circuit run to the odometer so it cancels based on distance traveled...

[Arnie]

Pat,

The self-canceling "feature" is much fancier than you're describing.
It requires BOTH a time and a distance datum to be met for it to cancel the signal.
The time is done via a timer circuit and the distance is determined by counting the pulses from a reed switch in the odometer.

About the only way they could have made it more complex would have been to use a multi-channel GPS for both the time signal and the distance measurement.  :-/

Just a guess but, self canceling turn signals has a circuit run to the odometer so it cancels based on distance traveled...

[keand3]

This might seem like a dumb question but which year model are you referring to, regarding the self-cancelling?
As far as i know the 86 doesn't have this feature, at least not mine 

Not that i need it but would be nice to have off it was incorporated.

Anyway, i will look at my relay when i get home and post some pictures of it. Could load up picture form the wiring diagram to if it wanted.

Cheers
Ken

[keand3]

Found this thread from 2009, apparently someone have converted from oem flasher to a new flasher. But unfortunately it's not described how he went forward with this.

[FeralRdr]

This might seem like a dumb question but which year model are you referring to, regarding the self-cancelling?
As far as i know the 86 doesn't have this feature, at least not mine 

Not that i need it but would be nice to have off it was incorporated.

Anyway, i will look at my relay when i get home and post some pictures of it. Could load up picture form the wiring diagram to if it wanted.

Cheers
Ken

Ken, your bike should have self canceling turn signals.  From the 86 Owners Manual in the Files Section: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=700.0;attach=334 (Pg 4-7).



To be honest, I found the Self Canceling feature somewhat hit or miss.  Mine worked most of the time, but I often still had to hit the cancel function on the switch.

[rktmanfj]

FWIW, depending on how much time you have to spend on it (and how much value you place on that time), you might find it better to replace it with another unit.  This stuff self-cancels, and handles LEDs:

http://kisantech.com/mag/index.php/signalminder.html?p=1

[keand3]

Okay, so it has the self-cancelling function, which obviously doesn't work on my bike
I really don't need that function, as i have always been cancelling it my self (obviously)..

FWIW, depending on how much time you have to spend on it (and how much value you place on that time), you might find it better to replace it with another unit.  This stuff self-cancels, and handles LEDs:
http://kisantech.com/mag/index.php/signalminder.html?p=1

Yes, that is what I had in mind. But under the "running light option", its states "regular harness" and "harness with DIODES". Since i have (or will have) LED as front signals, i would need to go for the DIODE harness, right? I notice i have a lack off experience with this kind of issues...


I do how ever have some consurns with a 3pin replacement. How would I have to wire the new relay? More specific, how would i know which wire goes on which pin? I'm guessing all the wires would still be needing a connection through it.

Went out and took a look at the relay unit, and it is as described earlier in the thread, a 9 pin connector unit. Its hard to get an overview of which wires entering this relay by looking at the harness, so I took a look at the wire diagram from my Haynes manual. If that manual is correct, the wires from other units is either entering directly into it or the relay is somehow connected to the units circut.
If someone who has a bit more experience with this then me, I would much appreciate all the help.. Its somewhat confusing...



If you follow each wire on the diagram it seems like most unit/switch etc gets a complete circut, somehow...?
According to the diagram, this flasher unit seems to be the only relay on the bike to except for the starter relay. I find that a bit strange...

I tried disconnecting the relay, and there was power, and all switches on my left handlebar was working except for the turnsignals. I did not try to fire her up though, since my 1,5 year old daughter is sleeping in the room right next to the garage. But i would suspect the relay is needed to get her started?






My goal, eventually somewhere in the near future, is to replace this OEM flasher relay, with something a bit more modern. Those flasher relays are starting to get old and hard to replace with OEM's.
Once I figure out "roughly" how to wire up a new 3 pin Relay, i will give it a go.   I also thought I might do a writeup (will consider videotaping it too) on the process as well since there dosen't seem to be one at the moment. Others might need a helping hand later on when or if they choose to do this mod.

Cheers
Ken

[keand3]

An small update.
I contacted Doc in the UK FJClub, with the same question to if he could shade some light on the questions i have.

Unfortunately he was out of the shop so i talked to coworker of him. Although he didn't have that much experience with this, alt those wires is for the self-cancelling feature to work. In regard to wiring up a new 3 pin relay he wasn't able to help.

But if all other features and systems on the bike works properly without the flasher relay attached, then it should be straight forward after one have found the turnsignal wires.

I have an extrs wire harness somewhere, will try to find it and locate ever each wires goes.

Ken

[Pat Conlon]

Ken, the later FJ's did not have the self canceling feature. My '92 for example.
Why not download a Owners Manual for a '92 and in the back is a wiring diagram you could study. Compare it with your bike and see which wires you need and which wires you can discard on hooking up a 3 pin flasher relay.

[keand3]

Ken, the later FJ's did not have the self canceling feature. My '92 for example.
Why not download a Owners Manual for a '92 and in the back is a wiring diagram you could study. Compare it with your bike and see which wires you need and which wires you can discard on hooking up a 3 pin flasher relay.

Pat, yes. You've read my mind.
I did just get some very useful information from Randy T, on the self-cancelling unit that Yamaha used on several of their bikes.
Hopefully it will give me some more solid information on how it's wired. I don't need to obtain the self-cannceling feature, but I need to know if there would me any errors in the electrical system, if I discard several of the wires.

Cheers
Ken

[FeralRdr]

Ken, just so you know, I'm still trying to get a hold of my friend with the manual.  If I can, I'll try to scan the diagram I previously mentioned.  I can't promise that it will answer all your questions, but hopefully it will help.  At the least, I believe it should let you know what sub assembly each individual wire goes to.  Hopefully, that will give you enough info to determine if putting in a digital flasher relay is feasible.   

[keand3]

Ken, just so you know, I'm still trying to get a hold of my friend with the manual.  If I can, I'll try to scan the diagram I previously mentioned.  I can't promise that it will answer all your questions, but hopefully it will help.  At the least, I believe it should let you know what sub assembly each individual wire goes to.  Hopefully, that will give you enough info to determine if putting in a digital flasher relay is feasible.   

Thanks.
I'm in no rush so I have plenty of time. Need to have some more spare time on my hands first.


Cheers
Ken