| Author | Message | ||
     Imeazy |
Here's what I did with my rear signals. Put this together for Jim_SB. Hope you all like... http://eazys.us/buell/s2tsignals.html | ||
| Imeazy |
I got started on the rear turn signal project. Found the stick on reflectors at Kragen. They also had large sheets of thin (and flexible) lens repair material (in red, yellow and clear) but I deemed the reflectors better for this project. Cool... the flexible plastic may be an idea for the front? The guts of my rear signals fit into the opening, but alas they aren't snug enough. Not sure why. Did you change bulbs and go with a larger bulb to get that interference fit? Don't know... mine were very snug? Stock on the bulbs. Do you have any concerns about the exposed contacts getting corroded over time? Perhaps some di-electric grease should coat them? Actually never even thought of that. Thanks for bringing it up!  I am going to go forward with this tonight, I'm going to pull the bodywork off the bike to make access easier - plus I need to remove the saddlebag support for welding (it broke again, different spot) anyway. I took the rear end off as well... made it easier to work with. I used a Dremel tool cutting attachment to trim the reflector to size. I think I'm going to clamp it in place and glue it in with some silicone adhesive. I was going to try that but the cutting wheels I have for mine are crummy so I went with the bench grinder. Best of luck... | ||
| Imeazy |
Jim_sb Correction... the bulbs are not stock. I forgot, but I bought a pair of amber bulbs from Autozone as well. Didn't make a difference on fit of the guts though. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi Mark, Well, I'm finished with Phase I. Take a look...  | ||
| Jim_sb |
Mark, 1. Yes! The flexible plastic sheets may work well on the front, but I'm committed to figuring out to make turn signal mirrors work. 2. If I had used larger bulbs, the stock signal guts may have worked well in there. I should have tried that! 3. Instead I used these......  4. Using those signals allowed me to keep the entire signal housing in tact - keeps all the contacts and wiring enclosed. I drilled a 3/8" hole in either side of the inner sub-structure to the rear bodywork a couple inches behind the reflectors. I then routed the wires from the lights through those holes, then gently pulled the wires to feed the entire turn signal unit towards the hole and into place. Then mounted with a washer and lock washer. Forgot to take a pic of that! 5. These signals have a VERY short stalk making them perfect for this area. The bad news (I found out later) is there is no reflector inside the signal housing and the bulbs are small, so they aren't too bright. As a result, I removed the lens covers from the new signals, relying on the yellow reflectors to provide the color. Nevertheless, the bulb is the only part exposed and since it is facing rearward, is sheltered by the signal housing as well as the fairing, it should be peachy. 6. Brightness was adequate at night, I didn't finish until late last night, I'll have to check for daytime effectiveness. 7. Installation is very clean looking. I used some Weld-It adhesive I had in the garage. Hopefully it will hold up well. I used a Dremel tool to cut (melt?) the plastic to rough shape, then a flat file to fine tune for fitment of the reflectors. I think your re-use of the stock guts and larger bulbs is a better idea! I may try that. 8. The good news is that I can drop one of these units out to change a bulb without removing the rear brake light. So changing a failed bulb should be relatively easy. | ||
| Imeazy |
Looks very good Jim. The idea of using the aftermarket lights is cool... unfotunately I'm always pressed for cash (2 kids). Had to go as cheap as I could. I do like the idea of not having to remove the brake light, but can live with that. Very nice job, glad everything went well for you.  | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi Mark, I may still go with the stock guts, just need to try a larger bulb to see if that makes the interference fit more snug. Bright is good in this application. We'll see how it goes. I'm more concerned with fixing the frame tab at this point. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Oops. Forgot to show you what I found when I removed the bodywork. In addition to having to repair the saddlebag mounting bracket, I noticed one of the frame tabs for mounting the seat had "left the building". See the pic...  | ||
| S2pengy |
Lost a tab on one of mine replaced it with an adel clamp... | ||
| Imeazy |
Man thats a real bummer about the bag bracket and the tab. Did you put those (don't what they're called) but the bolt brackets on the tabs? Mine has screws and nuts instead. Pretty wierd considering they are the same year. Well good luck to you and the repairs... | ||
| Koz5150 |
Jim, I run those same lights on my M2. During the daytime I had people running up on me because they never saw my turnsignals. I added a LED tail light with built in turnsignals and it has helped alot. Drivers see me much better. I thought about using just the LED's but the combination of both seems to be the best option right now. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hi Todd, an Adel Clamp? Can you elaborate? FYI, I'm told that they used Wellnuts on the S3. I think that would go a long way towards helping quell the vibration. The tab that broke was in fact fastened with a bolt and nut as the metal bracket was missing previously. Hmmm... Jim | ||
| Imeazy |
Here's a pic of an adel clamp for ya Jim... same type as used to hold on the fairing lowers.  Wellnuts on the S3... might be an idea. I do know that Lowes carries them here as I went and bought a couple replacements just the other day. About a dollar a piece. Thanks for the idea.  | ||
| Firemanjim |
Jim,I see you must be the only one I know that still has the CA carbon cannister on his S-2---- | ||
| Jim_sb |
FMJ, Yep, I still have the charcoal canister. It's my understanding that it's the single most effective anti-pollution device on a vehicle. I'm told that a fuel tank, sitting in the sun, vented to the atmosphere emits more harmful VOX in one day than your tail pipe does in an entire year of driving. So I left it on. | ||
| Imeazy |
Update on mod links... my server has changed. http://eazys.net/buell/FrontSignals.html http://eazys.net/buell/RearSignals.html |
