unsteady flasher relay?

[Marc]

the indicators of my 2003 Girly flashes unsteady, according to the engine revs.  Idling = normal, when increasing the throttle the flashing speed is much faster.  Any idea :?:  (note: the indicator lights are OK)

[metalguru]

If the lamps wiring and switch are all good then replace flasher relay. These are standard relays used for cars/bikes etc so a second hand one from a scrap yard will do just fine, the cost new is quite high, but could be very much less from a scrap yard!

[iansoady]

Could be a bad earth somewhere as this can cause what you're seeing.

[Bixxer Bob]

Don't disagree with the above, but I'm scratching my head trying to think why the flash speed would increase with engine revs. Flash speed is related to resistance hence it changes if a bulb blows or you fit LEDs. Why would resistance change with revs?

Edit; unless your volts are increasing too, have you checked volts across the battery as revs rise?

[metalguru]

Don't disagree with the above, but I'm scratching my head trying to think why the flash speed would increase with engine revs. Flash speed is related to resistance hence it changes if a bulb blows or you fit LEDs. Why would resistance change with revs?

Edit; unless your volts are increasing too, have you checked volts across the battery as revs rise?

With the old bi-metal flasher units ie old 70s Hondas they either worked or not and if one was keen could alter the flashing rate by 'adjustment' of the bi-metal strip.

However,

Triumph use a relay controlled by a multi-vibrater.
Don't get excited....this is electronic vibrations ie on-off at a certain frequency, this frequency is controlled by a resister or two to bring the oscilations to on about every second. This on time will then energise the relay and switch the lamps on.

If the resistance of the relay to lamp circuit alters, so does the flash rate.
ie bad connection, lamp earth, corroded switch, and of course LEDs or open circuit, relay senses volts in/out to give warning of blown lamp, (quicker flash but steady speed).

If the internal resistance of the relay alters, so does the flash rate,
ie water ingress inside the relay case, the controlling resisters faulty, causing unregulated voltage across the multi-vibrater, hence revving up can give higher voltage at the multi-vibrater, increasing the flash rate.

Usually it is water/damp ingress causing corrosion of the printed circuit.
The relay should always be mounted so the connectors are underneath.

[Marc]

Hmm, this is all very interesting to me.

I didn't mention that I replaced the indicator on the dashboard by a LED.  
The bulbs are original.

[metalguru]

Hmm, this is all very interesting to me.

I didn't mention that I replaced the indicator on the dashboard by a LED.  
The bulbs are original.

Unless the relay has broken then the LED repeater should not alter the rate.

[Bixxer Bob]

MG, understand all that, but it still doesn't tie in the relationship with RPM.  How's the change in revs change the resistance?  If it was a bad connection it would be erratic or permanent.

[metalguru]

Yes BB you are quite right and i just love senior moments as can't remember having them and what I set out to answer!!

Cannot remember off the top of my head the operating voltage of the multi-vibrator but if the reg goes wrong or shorted the thing will be seeing charging voltage. Although the flash frequency is slower (albeit still fast) at idle, as revs increase the flash rate also does.

Of course depending on the fault Ohms law can be applied.

[Bixxer Bob]

Which is why I asked about volts across the battery.  I don't want to scare the guy but I was thinking iffy reg...... :?

[metalguru]

Good place to check

[Stitch]

Ground for the turn signal relay is also tied in with the headlamps so a higher headlamp output might be seen when the fast flashing rate occurs. Even if it does brighten up a bit, a voltage/amperage check is first on the list to do followed by the ground union being clean and tight (prior to the battery's negative cable).

[Marc]

Edit; unless your volts are increasing too, have you checked volts across the battery as revs rise?

I'll check this a soon as possible.  (I replaced the battery a few months ago.)

I don't want to scare the guy but I was thinking iffy reg...... Confused

BB, what's iffy reg..  ?  (bad regulator??)
I am doing well with mechanics, but I'm afraid I must pass on electronics  :(

[John Stenhouse]

Girly weak spot is the charging circuit, check the voltage going into the battery with the engine running at various revs.

Reg is the regulator which governs how much the alternator puts into the battery, a known weakness on these bikes.

[Bixxer Bob]

As JS says,  iffy = suspect, reg = regulator.  If it's unserviceable you can find as much as 17 volts across the battery with the engine running, which will very quickly boil the battery.  I recently had 17v on my Blackbirdbut caught it earlyso battery was ok.  Symptom was blowing bulbs. As you aren't doing that I don't expect your volts to be that high.  I really hope I'm wrong but logically I can't come up with any other reason for flash speed to be related to revs.