Flasher switch

[White Dog]

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.

[Laitch]

How about posting a photo of what you're trying to describe? Are you talking about the headlight, turn signals or what?

[White Dog]

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.

[motodude]

Remove the tank. Disconnect the wires. Push the switch up from behind. There's nothing special.

Tom

[Laitch]

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.

[TrueAce]

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.

[Laitch]

Too late, Ace, confusion has arrived already.

[White Dog]

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.

[White Dog]

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?

[johnny]

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

[TrueAce]

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?

[Laitch]

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.

[TrueAce]

Oh yeah, then, but how about normal times?

[Laitch]

Oh yeah, then, but how about normal times?

What?

[Laitch]

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.

[Inge K.]

Remove the fuel pump fuse, run the engine untill it stops.

[TrueAce]

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.

[Martin]

+1 Inge  and Ace what in the hell is golf???
Regards Martin.

[White Dog]

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. 

[Inge K.]

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).

[johnny]

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...

[White Dog]

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?

[Laitch]

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.

[Inge K.]

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.

[Snowman]

+1 Inge  and Ace what in the hell is golf???
Regards Martin.

Bad sweaters and an expensive bag of bats.