Turn signals and intermittent Speedo problem

[JR67]

Hello Guys,
New K100LT owner here.
I recently bought a 1993 model for not too much, dove straight into it for clutch spline lube and replaced the intake rubbers and tires. I do this stuff myself, pretty simple stuff after wrenching on Guzzi's since 1988. My background is mechanic and electrician.
Now my question: a while ago I have had the left turn signals come on and stay on solid and when trying to clear the problem by pressing the right turn signal, all turn signals stayed on solid, even with the keys removed. This cleared after I pulled the fuses one by one. Things worked like normal again and I sprayed the switches and fuses and the problem stayed away. Easy fix, probably moisture I thought.
Now this weekend on the highway my speedo failed and the turn signals will only come on when the button is pressed. So one press will give one flash. I can hear the relay click once. As soon as the button is released the turn signal goes off.
Today the speedo seems to have repaired itself but not the turn signals......
So is there a relation between the two systems like a common ground that is failing depending on heat or moisture, I read something about a 3 or 4 wire connector in the dash?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[Martin]

Speedo pickup needs to be cleaned periodically, connector plug can also be a cause use Deoxit on the connector. Try substituting the relay on the indicators it could be sticking. The main connector on the back of the instruments can also benefit from a clean.
Regards Martin.
 

[JR67]

Thanks for your reply. The indicator relay that I hear clicking quite a large black box with a bunch of wires coming out, unike flasher relays that I am used to. Is that the only flasher relay on the bike? I see that these things go for $65 used on ebay, not something I want to try out just for the heck of it....
Thoughts?

[johnny]

greetings...

#1 dont doubt me on this...

i know you are gonna say its the turn cancel switch... butts dont doubt me on this...

j o

[Martin]

+1 Try Jo's method first.
Regards Martin.

[JR67]

I'll try that! Funny fix that would be.
Opened up the flasher relay, circuit board looks pristine, both relay coils work in 'hazard' mode. Cleaned the relay multi wire plug and sprayed the relay contacts. No change.
Will try the starter suggestion next.

[JR67]

When reverse bumping the bike, it only turns over one revolution - is that the idea?
Funny thing is that the turn signal indicator on the dash flashes once while doing that. (this is with the key off)
No success yet....

[Martin]

Keep trying Jo's method sometimes takes a bit of persistence. Deoxit is a Brickers best friend it is a good idea to go over all your connectors and clean them, you might want to give it a try on your switch WD40 is not much help. Deoxit can also help in the switches.I also smear dielectric grease around and in the connectors in the belief that it keeps out water and air thus inhibiting corrosion. A lot of Brickers believe dielectric grease can cause problems, your call. If you have to go after the relay substitution is the easiest way, if you are close to one of our Canadian inmates they might do a swap just to confirm that the relay is a problem. The only other way is to use a wiring diagram available on this site. If you look at the wiring diagram you should be able to see what colour wire supplies power to each side. Using a multimeter see if power is being supplied to the appropriate light when the switch is in the position for that side. It is a bit of a pain to connect the meter to the relay terminals jumper wires help. Testing this way can be a bit of a chore but is the only way that I can think of at the moment. I am in the position were I can borrow parts for confirmation, eventually you should be able to build up a network of friends and resources. Not that this is a help at the moment unless a local steps in. You might also want to use the search facility to see if you can find anything. We also have a couple of electrical gurus who might have a better way.
Regards Martin.

[Martin]

If you can't sort it by back starting you might have to clean out the starter this is more likely than not the cause of your problems.
Regards Martin.

[JR67]

Thanks Martin,
I'll do the reversing trick some more tonight and will check out the dash connector later this week when I have more time to take the fairing off(again). Thinking that since everything works except for the power that holds the flasher relay 'in', I should be able to narrow it down.
Come to think of it perhaps the turn signal cancelling button is stuck.....

[JR67]

Found it!!!

I opened the right hand handlebar switch and managed to get things working by manipulating the turn signal cancellation switch.

Thanks you all for the suggestions and advice. I will go through the switches, dash connector and speedo sensor wiring step by step and see what else I can find. But for now I can ride without having to play 'human turn signal relay'.

No doubt my next question will be: where can I get the little springs and parts that come flying at you when you open up the switches........

I promise I'll be careful haha.

[Martin]

Pull apart switches over a white plastic box with 1/2" of honey maple syrup in the bottom cover the box with muslin cloth so you can see what you are doing. Apparently sage smoke also helps.
Regards Martin.

[JR67]

Maple syrup, now there's an idea! :)
Look what I found:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08327823.1997.11688329?journalCode=tpee20

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Not surprising at all that it was a French Canadien at McGill who was involved in the study.  Microwave distillation of maple syrup.  Interesting...

[Martin]

I can see one problem with substituting maple syrup for dielectric grease. How to you keep all the ants off.  :hehehe

[JR67]

The turn signals work now as advertised, just sprayed the cancel switch with electric cleaner while operating it multiple times. Things loosened up and started working soon. Then drenched the whole unit in electrical anti corrosion protection spray, the blue Volvo maple syrup substitute that I have left over from my boat mechanic days.
The intermittent speedo problem I might have fixed yesterday, the speedo failed again after fixing itself, so now I could finally trouble shoot. First stop was the connector near the seat/tank area. Wiggle wiggle pull push and it started working again. I guess that was it.
Thanks everyone for the advise so far, awesome site here!

Next little project will be fixing the soft forks.

[JR67]

Yes I did, without improvement but I'll keep it in mind to do that on a regular basis to keep future problems at bay.
Cheers!

[johnny]

greetings...

so there you go... delayed backspin starter maintenance reaction... dont doubt me on this...

j o

[JR67]

Right! So there is a time clock involved, just couldn't find it in the schematic  :hehehe