Hitchcocks Forum

2008/9 4speed k/s 350 Classic. Indicators working (passed MOT) on Thursday, on Friday no life in them at all. All other electrics working fine. All I've had time to do today is check that the bulbs are all OK and I'll work through the wiring, earths, and connectors more methodically later. But can I test the flasher unit itself somehow? I have a basic multimeter, but am not good with electrics so any tips appreciated. I'll probably take the opportunity to change to MrH's 23 watt hiviz system, but meanwhile...
Many thanks.

I do not have a classic 350 or a wiring diagram for one but I would say that with the flasher relay removed you should test continuity across the connectors of the relay if it is open circuit it is probably faulty, it would normally allow a electrical path to light the indicator bulbs until it heats up to disconnect the path, then cools to remake the circuit enabling the flashing operation, or test across the connexions on the bike with the relay out and you should see 12v when you switch the indicators on but be warned I am saying this purely from what is lodged some ware in my head more accurate info may be forthcoming

Thanks for that Les. I'm getting somewhere in that I've found the connector that feeds the flasher unit (white and red/white wires as per handbook wiring diag that show 12v when the indicator switch is operated) floating loose behind the r/h toolbox/airbox. At present I'm in warming up (unheated garage) but on a quick peer around I'm dammned if I could see anything on the bike resembling the picture of the flasher on the parts list. Any hints where to look and/or what to take off to reveal it gratefully received! My best beloved's female logic has just told me that it must be somewhere within reach of the wires which is fair enough.

There's two trains of thought here (Unless one has been cancelled!)



There is a little bracket that has a single hole which screws to the bike (Somewhere). It could be in a tool box or near the coil or under the seat.



OR It could be several miles away, if the nut became loose and it ended up hanging on it's connector. A weak connector, or a good bump in the road would have 'seen it off' quite nicely.



SO, take a look at the space between the toolbox and air filter box, and check under the seat and on top of the gearbox incase it has fallen off and is still sitting on the engine.



If that fails, then start looking for a stud or hole with possibly scratched paint, within reach of the wires, which might show where it was.



If you have to replace it all, use a little loctite on the screw threads.

Guys? Somebody has got to know where the flasher is supposed to be?



"Things fall off Bullets!"

Found a rubber mount empty on the same 10mm bolt that holds the regulator. The flasher unit itself was lodged between chain guard and swing arm. No clue how it managed to dislodge itself from the rubber mount and the connectors but all back and working now. 2 electrical gremlins defeated within a week... And no, not smug at all. Thanks both. Geoff

Never seen that before must be an Enfield thing, and for the technical people the Enfield does not use a relay it is in fact a switch but it looks and sounds like a relay and it is easier to use that term to someone that may trying to find there way around an electrical problem

so we should lay the relay to rest?



Ok, it a bi-metallic strip switch with a series coil to heat it up, which causes it to break the circuit. all cools down and reconnects



repeat above until corner turned.


same idea as the plug in Christmas tree light flashers in the fifties. The xmas lights used to have a bayonet type plug back then and you could get these 36-40w flashers which just went in line, having a bayonet plug one end and a bayonet socket the other.



It was the early seventies when I found a couple in my parents garage. They always seemed to take an initial 2-0-30seconds to warm up before starting to flash, so being me, I took the light bulb out of the toilet, and put this thing in, with the bulb as well. My brother went in, and after 30 second (You couldn't reach the switch from the seat...) I could hear my name being screamed, and I was at the bottom of the garden laughing!