[tgmnation]

I know there's a lot of posts on LED turn signals, but I'm a newb (1st post!) and can't find (or comprehend) the information I'm looking for for my specific case. I recently bought a 2001 Tdub. The front turn signals are short stalk LEDs. All lights on the bike function normally, including the "dash" lights. The bike is fenderless in the rear, and has the factory rear turn signals, an LED tail light, and the license plate zip tied to a bar in back (sounds sketchy as hell, but was done pretty well). Basically, I'm wanting to get the Tusk LED tail light and also mount Tusk LED rear flashers, but I don't want to run into any electrical issues at my level of newb. I'm wondering if maybe since I already have LED flashers in front, that I can add some in back without any problems? Will I still need a flasher relay (such as the one Tusk sells)? Will I run into problems with them not flashing, or my signal position light needing to be removed? Any help I would greatly appreciate!

 

[operose]

If the front signals flash OK I would think that you already have an electronic flasher or that other components have been added to correct for this (resistors?)



Can you check where the wires from the front signals go to see if anything is soldered in line, and also check the flasher on the back of the triple tree to see if it is the stock unit?



You may or may not need to remove the indicator bulb. Qwerty said he switched to an LED indicator and that fixed the problem. I'm assuming that this is because LED lights are "light emitting diodes" and diodes are what would solve the circuit bridging issue.





If you need the flasher the tusk unit seems like a good buy for the price and is what I used. The connector was not right, so I cut the connector off the stock harness and cut the connector off the flasher, then crimped quick disconnect terminals on each wire. The rear turn signals were the same -- cut stock harness and install terminals, plug in, ride

 

[tgmnation]

Thanks for the help, operose! I just took a flash light out there, and I can't see anything inline with the front turn signals. I also didn't see anything inline with the rear flashers. What I did see is a small black box with wires protruding from it that's zip tied to the frame on the right side of the bike near where the throttle cable connects to the carb. I took a picture, but can't seem to include it in this post. It looks like a relay or something...I think. Maybe I should just buy the Tusk rear tail light, Tusk LED turn signals, Tusk flasher (return if not needed), and an LED indicator bulb (return if not needed) and see what kind of trouble I can get myself into...

 

[qwerty]

Take the stock flasher to any auto parts store and for a replacement that is not load sensitve.

 

[rmoore2112]

I went to both Advance auto and Autozone, they looked at me with the deer in the headlights look when I inquired about LED flashers. It's hard to find good help these days.





LF1-S-FLAT: Universal Motorcycle Flasher from http://www.superbrightleds.com/ is what I used on my 2008. It is a plug-in replacement.

11.94 shipped to my house.



I also ordered the following bulbs after reading Qwerty's LED threads from superbrightleds.com. The spider light is ok for the rear tail, but you have to bend the bottom led panel up to fit in the brake light housing.







Qty | Product / Options | Price/ea |

============================================================

1 | BA9s-x-xV: 1-LED BA9s Bulb | $ 1.98 |

BA9SF-B-12V: Blue 180 Degree 12VAC/DC

------------------------------------------------------------

2 | BA9s-x-xV: 1-LED BA9s Bulb | $ 1.98 |

BA9SF-G-12V: Green 180 Degree 12VAC/DC

------------------------------------------------------------

1 | 1157-x30SMD-SP: 30HP-LED BAY15D Spider Light| $ 19.95 |

1157-R30SMD-SP: 1157 Red

------------------------------------------------------------

1 | WLED-x5: 5 LED T10 Wide Angle Wedge Base Bulb| $ 3.94 |

WLED-WW5: Warm White

------------------------------------------------------------









For the turns, I am using 1156 and 1157 bulbs from here:



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120870056551#ht_1922wt_1197

 

[tgmnation]

Wow, thanks so much for everyone's help. Good information from everyone. I'll order and/or go purchase all the parts I think I need and hopefully will get myself up and running with no problems. Thanks again, seriously!

 

[Hiway]

Did you have to correct blink rate after replacing turn signals with led's?

 

[tgmnation]

I'll assume you're talking to someone other than me, Hiway, as my parts are on their way as of today

 

[tgmnation]

So a quick update...got my parts (thanks rdm2112) and installed everything yesterday and everything works! I put LEDs in for the neutral indicator, turn signal position, and high beams lights, and installed an LED taillight and LED rear blinkers. The blinkers were plug n play, and the taillight was a three wire crimp job. I didn't even need the LED flasher, so I'll probably return that. My guess is the guy who had the bike previously (and put on LED turn signals in the front) set the bike up to run fine with LEDs...I'm not really sure, just happy everything works. The hardest part was mounting the new taillight and blinkers! Anyways, project complete. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[operose]

Good job!

 

[Hiway]

Can you list the parts and where you got them? Or did you use the items recommended here?

 

[sshaw00]

Any pics you could post of the new setup? One of the next things I want to do on mine is to clean up the rear lights a little bit and make them lower profile.. I'm still kind of gathering info on how to accomplish this.

 

[Retrofit]

any photos of what the spider thing looks like in a stock housing?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/more...ed-bulb-dual-intensity-30-smd-led-spider/818/

says 130 lumens



or something like this

http://www.superbrightleds.com/more...ed-bulb-dual-intensity-45-smd-led-tower-/814/

at 220?

 

[BuddyMc]

Any pics you could post of the new setup? One of the next things I want to do on mine is to clean up the rear lights a little bit and make them lower profile.. I'm still kind of gathering info on how to accomplish this.

Hey TX. See if you can find Hodaka Guy's thread (on ADV Rider I think). His thread inspired me to shorten the stalks on the rear using epoxy and threaded lamp rod (Home Depot, etc,) and springs. I shortened mine so they'd fit neatly under the Agri-Supply bottles mounted outboard of my rear rack. They can still flex nicely because they are held in place by a spring under the fender. Threaded rod is epoxied into the shortened stalk to replace the hollow mount you've removed in shortening the stalks; the now longer threaded rod goes through the fender, then a flat washer, spring, another flat washer followed by two nuts are threaded onto the rod. Tighten the nuts to keep the signal tight, but loose enough to flex under impact. If you make the rod under the fender come through about 2 1/2 to 3 inches, it is easier to get the spring length right. Get one side right, then make the 2nd one match.

 

[SEADUB200]

TAIL/BRAKE LED choice - Isn't brighter better? Please help me choose.

any photos of what the spider thing looks like in a stock housing?

1157 LED Bulb - Dual Intensity 30 SMD LED Spider | LED Brake Light, Turn Light and Tail Light Bulbs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs

says 130 lumens



or something like this

1157 LED Bulb - Dual Intensity 45 SMD LED Tower | LED Brake Light, Turn Light and Tail Light Bulbs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs

at 220?

1157 LED Bulb - Dual Intensity 28 High Power LED | LED Brake Light, Turn Light and Tail Light Bulbs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs

So, this one above has the highest lumen output (550 lumens) of any of the dual-intensity 1157 LED TAIL/BRAKE bulbs available through http://www.superbrightleds.com. Brighter's better, right? Anyone have experience with this specific bulb, or can recommend another for light output & reliability?

I also understand that it's recommendedto go with the RED LED's, for use in red lense housings like the TW's, not WHITE LED's. Anyone with experience on that subject care to chime in?

Kinda pricey, but there's so much junk for sale on EBay & Amazon, it's hard to sort out the good from the garbage. I've heard good things about www.superbrightleds.com.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SEADUB200]

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?...

BuMp