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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: White Dog on March 29, 2016, 10:40:00 PM

Title: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on March 29, 2016, 10:40:00 PM
What is the procedure for removing the flasher switch from a K75?  I need to test the switch to see if it needs replacing or just a good cleaning.  I am reluctant to just pull on it for fear of breaking a tab, etc.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 29, 2016, 11:34:13 PM
How about posting a photo of what you're trying to describe? Are you talking about the headlight, turn signals or what?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on March 30, 2016, 07:57:36 AM
The flasher switch is a rectangular rocker switch in the dash panel which also contains a switch for heated grips and ABS, plus a non-functional plug.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: motodude on March 30, 2016, 08:40:53 AM
Remove the tank. Disconnect the wires. Push the switch up from behind. There's nothing special.

Tom
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 30, 2016, 09:16:44 AM
The emergency flasher switch—it's all clear to me now. If it's necessary to remove the tank, you'll should depressurize the fuel system.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on March 30, 2016, 10:18:43 AM
Not to be confused with the flasher relay module in the box under the tank. If the flasher rocker isn't working check that,too.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 30, 2016, 10:20:25 AM
Too late, Ace, confusion has arrived already.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on March 30, 2016, 04:02:14 PM
Inasmuch as the turn signals function fine, I have ruled out the flasher itself.  just concerned with the emergency flasher rocker switch on the panel right now.  If I have to go further, I will.

3/31 Update.  Attempted to remove the rocker switch on the panel today in order to test it or spray it with electronic cleaner.  Didn't get very far, as there is no slack in the wires attached to it.  Did I mention there are but 2 wires coming from under the tank to the switch?  As per the wiring diagram in the Clymer manual, there are supposed to be 3 wires.  Two are routed to the flasher module under the tank and the third is a common ground.  Until 2008 I never owned a motorcycle with emergency flashers and even though this '95 BMW has a switch for them, I doubt I'll ever go digging under the tank for one stupid wire.  For all I know, the switch went south and someone disconnected the blue/white wire, which is the missing one.  There is very little room under the panel and it is difficult to see where the 2 existing wires go, other than into a protective sleeve.  I don't know the entire history of this machine but one previous owner did some major preventative maintenance at 22K miles.  Still under 30K at present.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on March 31, 2016, 09:27:59 PM
The emergency flasher switch—it's all clear to me now. If it's necessary to remove the tank, you'll should depressurize the fuel system.

Just for future reference, how does one depressurize the fuel system?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: johnny on March 31, 2016, 09:35:03 PM
greetings white dog...

if you let it sit overnight generally it will slowly depressurize on its own... butts if you gotta do it right now you can loosen up the fuel pump hose in the tank... if you do it outside the tank it will spew fuel all over the place...

or you can do what the mayor of fredrikstad is gonna say... remove the fuel pump fuse and run the engine until it stops...

j o
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on March 31, 2016, 09:54:43 PM
There is a common ground that runs from the right hand switch module under the tank that may be the ground for your flasher switch. I am still not clear on whether your rocker switch activates the flashers or not. Is it currently functional or not? These rocker switches should push up from behind fairly easily......just firm upward pressure from the back of the panel. As for depressurizing the fuel lines, just use a flat blade screw driver to slowly release the clamp on the forward tube on the left side of the tank, after letting it sit for a little bit after running the engine. Once you get the steps down, removing the tank ain't no thang. But unless you need to get in the relay electrics box, probably not necessary. How about we survey how many forum members have ever activated the flasher switch on the dash?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 31, 2016, 10:56:31 PM
How about we survey how many forum members have ever activated the flasher switch on the dash?
I'll go first.

Innumerable times, usually stopped at the side of a traveled road: when checking maps, when bird watching, when giving tourists directions but actually staring down blouses, when removing a condor carcass from the front of my jacket, when having a cursing fit, when putting on raingear, when taking off raingear, when clearing foreign and domestic objects from my face shield, when watching the sunrise or sunset when the sun is only a thread of shimmering light on the horizon, and so on.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on March 31, 2016, 11:14:49 PM
Oh yeah, then, but how about normal times?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 31, 2016, 11:17:32 PM
Oh yeah, then, but how about normal times?
What?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on March 31, 2016, 11:19:26 PM
Just for future reference, how does one depressurize the fuel system?
By following one of the three steps in the Clymer manual. A prerequisite is to believe in manuals, which apparently is a bridge too far for some of us.

Anyway, I use Method 3; there's no spray when I wrap a rag around the hose end and slowly loosen the clamp. Usually, on an engine that's cooled down for an hour or so, there's only been the slightest dribble of fuel. The conclusion of that method has one of my favorite instructions: "use a golf tee for plugging the hose." Of course, I will. I keep them in my tool roll inside my microfiber tamoshanter.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Inge K. on March 31, 2016, 11:56:46 PM
Remove the fuel pump fuse, run the engine untill it stops.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on April 01, 2016, 12:24:10 AM
No self respecting bricker has 6 hours and a $100 to waste on golf when they would rather be ridin', so they ain't gonna have no golf tee. I just hang a 18"x12" bungee net off the handle bars to catch the tank from falling, slide it off on the right side to get to the box, and don't have to disconnect the fuel hoses.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Martin on April 01, 2016, 01:57:41 AM
+1 Inge  and Ace what in the hell is golf???
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on April 01, 2016, 11:45:10 AM
There is a common ground that runs from the right hand switch module under the tank that may be the ground for your flasher switch. I am still not clear on whether your rocker switch activates the flashers or not. Is it currently functional or not? These rocker switches should push up from behind fairly easily......just firm upward pressure from the back of the panel. As for depressurizing the fuel lines, just use a flat blade screw driver to slowly release the clamp on the forward tube on the left side of the tank, after letting it sit for a little bit after running the engine. Once you get the steps down, removing the tank ain't no thang. But unless you need to get in the relay electrics box, probably not necessary. How about we survey how many forum members have ever activated the flasher switch on the dash?
No, the rocker switch does not activate the emergency flashers on my bike.  Just to clarify, my Clymer manual (Third Edition) on page 678 shows the "Hazard Warning Flasher Switch) to have 3 wires"  Brown, Yellow/Violet and Blue/White, with the Yellow/Violet and Blue/White going to the Flasher Unit and Brown tying into other ground wires.  My "Hazard Warning Flasher (rocker) Switch" is missing the Blue/White wire, but there appears to have a hole in the bottom of the switch which possibly should accommodate the blue/white wire.  Then, there is the question of how to get inside the rocker switch to solder the new wire in place--provided I feel I really need the thang to work.   I was able to push the rocker switch upward some, but not out of its "nest" in the panel--due to the shortness of the wires. 
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Inge K. on April 01, 2016, 12:42:39 PM
My "Hazard Warning Flasher (rocker) Switch" is missing the Blue/White wire,

The blue/white wire where only present on early models, and was for a indicator lamp inside the switch.
(the symbolplate is translucent dark red).
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: johnny on April 01, 2016, 01:07:59 PM
i removed my switches all together... wanted to eliminate that high weight above the steering axis... now i can eat chicken strips all the way to the rim without warshing out...
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on April 01, 2016, 03:40:42 PM
My "Hazard Warning Flasher (rocker) Switch" is missing the Blue/White wire,

The blue/white wire where only present on early models, and was for a indicator lamp inside the switch.
(the symbolplate is translucent dark red).
Good info.  My rocker switch is non-functional.  Do you suppose I could use a jumper wire from the brown wire to the yellow/violet to see if there is power to the rocker switch?  That would perhaps rule out tank removal to get to the flasher unit. 
It is a 1995 K75.  I wonder if there is fuse for the emergency flashers?  The turn signals work fine and the cancel button works as well.  So far, my research does not reveal a listing for what each fuse protects.  Do you suppose someone has posted this info?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on April 01, 2016, 03:57:00 PM
Fer godsake, Whitey. Is your Google broken?

Don't say I never gave you anything. This will work for your bike although it's a year earlier.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Inge K. on April 01, 2016, 04:06:23 PM
Do you suppose I could use a jumper wire from the brown wire to the yellow/violet to see if there is power to the rocker switch?
That is just what the switch does (grounds the yellow/violet wire), then you gonna find out if your switch is
the problem..........or the wiring, connectors, ground connection.

It isn't any own fuse for the hazard light....if your turn signal functioning as it should, both fuses for the
flasher relay is OK.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Snowman on April 01, 2016, 07:56:39 PM
+1 Inge  and Ace what in the hell is golf???
Regards Martin.

Bad sweaters and an expensive bag of bats.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on April 01, 2016, 08:38:35 PM
Fer godsake, Whitey. Is your Google broken?

Don't say I never gave you anything. This will work for your bike although it's a year earlier.
Hey Laitch, you gotta cut me some slack.  I'm a newbie to BMW.  Who would have thought the fuses would have been identified in the Riders Manual and not the wiring diagrams in the Clymer?  Anyway, I appreciate your help.  Guess I need a refresher course on reading and comprehension--particularly the new terms being tossed at me, i.e., perch, centre, etc, etc.  I want to ride but need to mend a few things before I do any serious riding.  I did grease the side and center stands last night, as the side stand was a bit sluggish, but not anymore.

When does your riding season crank up?
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on April 01, 2016, 09:31:59 PM
True story............I was actually asked recently by a "Snow Bird" from Minnisota , "Why do you need so many motorcycles when you can't ride but one at a time?"..................and I told him " why do you have so many golf clubs........one for every task". His visa is cancelled for next winter season Smart ass Yankee, Southern Man don't need......oh, we already did that one.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Laitch on April 01, 2016, 09:36:58 PM
Hey Laitch, you gotta cut me some slack. . . .Who would have thought the fuses would have been identified in the Riders Manual and not the wiring diagrams in the Clymer?
Me, for one. Consider slack cut, for whatever that's worth, Whitey.

Riders are on the hard surface here already. Dirt bikes are starting to thump through the mud up here, too, but I'm biding my time, hiding my ride from residual salt—adjusting this, tweaking that, installing the other—but mostly bucking logs and splitting wood while the weather's cool and the black flies are dormant. Probably roll out mid-May and stay rolling as long as I can.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on April 01, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
Rooooooooooollllllllll Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! I am headed to NC this weekend to to do a Smokey Mountain Spring before heading West! See you in Montana, Laitchster! Or at least Colorado!
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: Martin on April 02, 2016, 12:34:57 AM
Snowman you just described Cricket.
Regards Martin.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: White Dog on April 03, 2016, 10:26:07 AM
Tested the hot wire to the flasher switch last night and voltage was good.  Pulled switch out of panel (unloosened the wire straps on the neck tube to provide some slack in the flasher wires), took switch apart and determined not all the parts are in that switch, so I ordered a new one this morning.  May never have to use the flashers (hope I don't) but I did check them and they function properly once the circuit is completed from the hot wire to the ground.  This is what the rocker switch is supposed to do.  This from the Department of Redundancy Department.
Title: Re: Flasher switch
Post by: TrueAce on April 03, 2016, 01:23:42 PM
Way to go, WD, that's the way to follow through......good job.