KZ440 Turn Signal Question

Hi Guys...coming out of hybernation and getting the bike ready. Running into a turn signal issue that I'm hoping you can answer. I did look at other posts and got some ideas but still no go.

My 80' KZ440B is a cafe that the PO removed the signals on. I got some single filament aftermarket stalks and connected them to the wiring harness.
On the back, I got the signals to light but not flash when I flipped the switch. The light on the pilot box does go on.
On the front, I connected the wires to ones labeled by the PO as signal wires and also tried two, unlabeled ones as well...both results were the signals stayed on like running lights regardless of if the switch was flipped. Any ideas on what could be the issue? Thanks in advance.

Paul

You'll probably have to open up the headlight housing to figure out what wires do what.

On the 80's Kawasaki's(and maybe more) they have/had running lights with a dual filiment bulb in the front turn signals.

I'll use my 1982 GPz 1100's wiring diagram as an example:

For the RIGHT FRONT turn signal:
BLACK with YELLOW stripe: the ground circuit.
GREY(or GRAY):the turn signal circuit.
BLUE: the running light circuit.

For the LEFT FRONT turn signal:
BLACK with YELLOW stripe: the ground circuit.
GREEN:the turn signal circuit.
BLUE: the running light circuit.

The rear turn signal do not have running light functions, only turn signal capabilities(unless front signals were added to the rear, in which case some states will give tickets for amber rear running lights).To get around this, the purchase of RED lenses would be needed.

Perhaps a new flasher is needed. Standard inexpensive automotive style flasher will suffice. Electronic style, rather than heat, is better imo.

Blinking will require turn signal wires connected to front bulbs (not the running light wires, which may remain disconnected).

Good Fortune!

Thanks for the tips...I found a wiring diagram online and will confirm the labeled wires in the headlight bucket. I'll also get a new flasher see if that helps.

Got a new flasher and got the signals working (mostly trial and error). Problem now is that they flash really slow...like every 3 seconds slow! Any ideas? The flasher I got was very cheap, only 4 bucks.

Fully charged battery? Good clean electrical contacts? Turn signal switch in the left switch pod clean? Good ground connection?

pjed wrote:

Got a new flasher and got the signals working (mostly trial and error). Problem now is that they flash really slow...like every 3 seconds slow! Any ideas? The flasher I got was very cheap, only 4 bucks.

The $4 flasher is likely the less expensive, but very common, thermal (heat) operated design, and which I believe is the oem KZ design.

My understanding is that the electrically operated design flasher, which is more expensive (say about $, is the better performing flasher, as it isn't as sensitive to load demand placed upon the flasher circuit. [Could be wrong about this.]

After heeding the good advice from MFolks, if still persists in really slow flashing, could try the electrical version flasher, which has reportedly resolved flasher problems for others.

Good Fortune!