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Convert your Turn Signals to RunTurn Signals, an Alternative Method

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Written by Loren Cole   
Thursday, 10 June 2004

Reprinted by permission from Mr. Tidy's Tech Tips

I first picked up some red lenses from a motorcycle salvage shop nearby. Perfect fit. Must have come off an old Yamaha (?). (an alternative to this is using a Custom Chrome Lens or picking up some Red Translucent Testors Model Paint at the hobby shop or some Wal Marts) Also from  YAMAHOGG1    Go to http://crc2onlinecatalog.com

Search for part/item # YAM002 Yamaha Turn Signal lens "Fits MANY early XS/TX models '400cc to 1100cc '77-'83 RED VERSION"

$3.95 each.....it's a bargain and a perfect fit. 

Then went to Radio Shack for a pair of 12 volt, 2 amp single throw, double pole miniature relays. Well, the only ones they had looked like they would go onto a printed circuit board. Certainly not automotive quality/durability. So went next door to Schucks Automotive. No relays of that sort either.

Then on a whim, I checked the trailer lighting section. Sure enough! After studying the wiring diagram I decided that a 3 wire to 2 wire tail light converter would work. It's made by Reese - p/n#74209. The converter itself is about 3x4 inches square and about 1/2 inch thick. 

The three wires on the Roadstar we'll be dealing with are
brown - left turn signal, 
green - right turn signal, 
blue - running lamp (tail light).
 

 
On the left side of the converter, labelled "To Car" are five wires,
right turn, 
stop,
left turn, 
tail, 
ground. 

On the right side, labeled "To Trailer" are four wires ,
right turn/stop, 
left turn/stop, tail, 
ground. 

I uncoupled the harness connector under the seat, going to the rear. Upstream of the coupler I connected the wires on the "to car" side of the converter,
right turn to green, 
left turn to brown, 
stop to blue, 
ground to the negative battery terminal.

Then I pulled the brown & green wires out of the downstream side of the rear lighting connector. 

On the "to trailer" side of the box, I connected 
right turn/stop to green,
left turn/stop to brown (the two wires disconnected from the coupler) 
ground to the other ground wire

Plugged the coupler back together. 

The unit has double-sided sticky tape on the back, so peeled off the paper and stuck it right there where the stock tool kit was. Perfect fit. Laid the Yamaha tool kit over the top & secured it with it's rubber strap and replaced the seat. 

The reason I connected "stop" to "running lamp" was because I figured that was the best way to have continuous power to the turn signals, to be used as running lights. I think to have used the "tail" wire also would have required dual filament bulbs. As it is, with the stock single filament bulbs, they're both on all the time (whenever the key is on), and when a turn signal is activated, it blinks off & on. They do blink about twice as fast as before, but no biggie. 

Works great.

I hope I didn't make this sound more difficult or confusing than it was. It was really very simple, and took me less that 30 minutes. 

Theory to as, why it works

Here's the reasoning of why I used the "stop" circuit for the running lights:

The blue wire on the bike is for the tail light, which is energized at all times, when the key is turned on. We want the running lights to be on all the time too, of course.

Since the blue (energized) tail light wire is connected to the "stop" wire (on the "to car" side of the module), it powers that circuit all the time, as if the brake was being used.

Then on the downstream side (to trailer), "right turn/STOP" and "left turn/STOP" receive that continuous power, causing both 1156 bulbs to be on all the time.

The "right turn" and "left turn" wires on the "to car" side receive power only when the turn signals are activated. These connect to the same "RIGHT TURN/stop" and "LEFT TURN/stop" on the "to trailer" side of the module. When the turn signals are activated, they interrupt power momentarily to the 1156 single filament bulbs, causing them to "blink, blink, blink".

The "tail" wires on both sides of the module are separate from the "left turn/stop and right turn/stop circuits and would not receive the pulsing signal interruption from the turn signals, and is therefore not used.

The whole ball game changes if you have installed dual filament bulbs (1157 ???). In that case, you would indeed use the "tail circuit", which would go to the second wire on each turn signal on the modified 1157 sockets. Basically, it would be wired just as the module instructions direct, rather than modifying it my way (trailers use dual filament bulbs). If you want to go this route, with 1157's, rather than having "turn signal/running lights", you will have "turn signals/running lights/brake lights". This is of course, even better, but I chose to avoid the extra step of changing out the light sockets to accomodate the dual filament bulbs.

Make sense? I hope so. Electricity theory makes my head spin. It's taken me about an hour to compose this memo in my head and get it down on paper. Anyway, trust me, it works < G > .

RSC NOTE:  For updates please check out Loren's website at:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res09x4p/
 
 
Loren Cole 
Snohomish WA 
'02 Midnight Star 
ISRA #9971, Norwestars Constellation 



Questions should be asked in our forum (Use discuss link below). The forum is very active and you stand a good chance of getting your questions answered there. If you would like to leave feedback for the author, or have additional information you think will benefit others, please use the comment section at the bottom of this page.

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DISCLAIMER: This information and procedure is provided as a courtesy and is for informational purposes only.  Neither the publishers nor the authors accept any responsibility for the accuracy, applicability, or suitability of this procedure.  You assume all risks associated with the use of this information.  NEITHER THE PUBLISHERs NOR THE AUTHORs SHALL IN ANY EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OF ANY NATURE ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS INFORMATION OR LACK OF INFORMATION.  Any type of modification or service work on your motorcycle should always be performed by a professional mechanic. If performed incorrectly, this procedure may endanger the safety of you and others on your motorcycle and possibly invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty.


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  Comments (6)
Kuryakyn 2267 Red or 2266 Clear Lenses
Written by mrrenaissance, on 09-23-2015 20:00
Just installed the red in preparation for the Run-Turn-Brake mod coming in a few days. I had heard several comments about these not coming with the rubber O ring/seal but thought I'd give it a try anyway. The rubber on my stock amber ones was starting to pull off in a few spots anyway, so I carefully removed both from the amber and they went under the red perfectly. Im sure I could even use some sort of adhesive down the road to affix them to the red ones, but I'm VERY happy with the look and can't wait to get and install the Kuryakyn 4710 Run-Turn-Brake Controller.
raymond
Written by ray63, on 01-17-2012 16:22
ok i just bought a set off after market blinkers slash running lights for the front of my 2004 roadstar the blinkers work great but cant get the running lights to work
This alternate method works!
Written by AtLarge, on 04-23-2011 22:35
I joined just to say thanks for the write up. I did this on my KZ750 and it works great. Cool thing is too is that depending on how you power the brake lead you can either use this system for running/turn or turn/brake. Thank you Loren!
Reese - p/n#74209, 3 wire to 2 wire tail
Written by Popeye0719, on 08-20-2010 16:05
Ok...first time on. Read and studied the above tech tip regarding using the Reese 74209 tail light converter to have turn signals as running lights too. Just want to confirm with anyone else who may have installed this and ran into any problems. Wish me luck!!!
front blinker wont work
Written by Roadogg, on 10-02-2009 20:53
ok here goes. my front left blinker went when i went to change the bulb i found that that bulb was ok. yet the housing was a lil rusty tried to clean out but the bulb would not stay in tight connection was bad.the light stays on all the time the key is on and had turn signal too!. Now heres the problem!. went to auto zone two wire fitment mines has three wires two and one soldered to the housing. found a three wire one at pep boys ok.Back to bike tried to install but i keep blowing fuses,the the light only either comes on or it will only blink it wont do both. the right side is fine only the left side no matter how i wire it it wont do both. the bike has a back off module and a load equalizer. the brakes flash three time when you hit them. please if you can help me with this i would appreciate it.
Written by ERICRS, on 10-23-2007 07:32
Question added converter to taillight and I have a backoff flasher,when wiring the converter to the turn signal,they work as break light the other don't....?????I have 1157 sockets

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