87 vfr700 electrical problem

does anyone know where i can find a free manual for a 1987 vfr 700? I'm having some electrical problems (turn signals inop) so all i really need is the wiring diagrams. the turn signals started blinking really slow and now they dont work at all. the fuse is good and i replaced the flasher unit; i think it might be something with the switch.

 

I have same bike, with same problems. I know the problem with my bike though... and I am in process of swapping out the entire blinker system and break tail light assy with LED circuits... so my issue is null.

I can help you.

I will scan in the pages of the wiring diagram for you, when I get home... first I need to know if your bike is a US bike, or if its a Japan bike. (the wiring is different)

For now, you should have the following...

switch to relay, (Green, black, and white with black stripe)

left side front blinker, (green, orange, and orange with white stripe)

right side front blinker, (green, light blue, and light blue with white stripe)

left side rear blinker, (green, orange with white stripe)

right side rear blinker, (green, light blue with white stripe)

the wires with white stripes (both sides) go to the turn signal relay and driver... the solid colors (light blue and orange) go to the ignition 12V circuit with load amplifiers on them. (load cells are in the wiring harness... one is on the harness hear the gas tank, on the right side of the bike, and one is near the tail ECM)

If you leave the bike out in the rain, it stands to chance your selector switch needs cleaning... not replaced. this is a mechanically spring actuated lever on a set of brass/copper plates... simple, easy, just clean it. you should have dual filliment bulbs that operate at 5 and 32W each side. The contacts within the bulb socket could be corroded as well... again some good cleaning with electrical parts cleaner works wonders.
your relay is not so easily replaced... you must have exactly the right voltage and load to drive the relay. If you switched to a solid state relay, you can stop right now... the SS relays dont work with the low W incandescant bulbs.

I am currently working on another side project to make my own LED universal mounted blinkers. I bought a pair from the web, (not cheap), and I am reverse engineering the prints to make my own. all that is required with the change is a ~$16.00 blinker relay converter.

 

I'm pretty sure it is a Japan bike - the VIN starts with a J so i assume that means it is Japan but not sure. The bike isn't actually mine yet, im buying it from a friend but need to get this problem figured out first before i do that. Anyway thanks for the info so far, it has helped me alot; and if you have any other helpful pieces of information it would be greatly appreciated as well.

 

Another member here has it on his webpage:

http://damon.hopkins-family.org/vfr/

Its a rather large pdf (28 Mb) but has everything
Hope you get it sorted out, electrical problems can be a real pain

 

Thanks mrmatt for the info; that pdf is kinda hard to read, the quality of the image is not very good. But i was able to find a wiring diagram on the database at my local library, so if anyone else out there is looking for a manual check out your library you will probably find it there. Havent had time to look at it yet but i will let you know how the diagnosis and repair goes.

 

Well i made some progress on the turn signal problem. There were 3 things: the relay i had installed was the wrong relay; one of the rear bulbs was bad; and apparently the headlight needs to be installed for the turn signals to work, which i did not know. We had the front of the bike taken apart to paint so the headlight was removed when we were checking the turn signals.

However, i did run across another problem - i can't seem to find a rear turn signal bulb at any parts stores. I went to the Honda shop and the bulbs they looked up for the bike were different from the ones i pulled out - the base where it fits into the socket was almost twice as big as the bulb i have. So apparently the bike has aftermarket lights or something on it. There is no bulb number on the bulb, it just says 12V 23W. I found some 12 volt bulbs at an automotive parts store that were the same size physically but they were only 3 or 4 watts so they wouldn't be near as bright as the ones already in there. I just bought the bike and this is the only thing stopping me from being able to ride it, so does anyone have any idea where i would be able to find the right bulbs? Any solution to the problem would be great, i just want it to function properly so i can finally get out and ride.

Here is picture of the bulb i pulled out. Sorry for the quality, i only have my cellphone camera. But you get an idea of what it looks like and the size of the bulb.

 

U have aftermarket ( not Honda ) signals so try any motorcyle store that sells similar units; u won't find the bulb at any autoparts store !

 

SQM is right, you got something we dont know...
I will help you out. Since you seem to have some good electrical common sence, I am going to gamble that you can handle what I'm suggesting.

(Assuming your enclosure can handle the space)

Go here, and buy these sockets. The bulbs for these are easily bought at autoparts stores, motorcycle stores, shoot, even Wal-Mart..
Custom LED Dual Contact Bayonet Sockets

Those bulbs are these

Custom LED Dual Filament Bayonet Bulbs

 

i just went and threw everything i have in the lines of VFR docs up on my webserver for anybody and everybody to use. knowk yourselves out guys, i got this stuff for free, and i intend to pay the favor forward.

www.retrospective.us:8080/vfr

if yall have any trouble reaching the web page, lemme know. otherwise, enjoy!

 

oh and ghost....im really interested in your LED project here....im gonna keep tabs on this thread in hopes that you may one day be able to write a good howto on getting the stock turn signals swapped out for LED units (as well as a list of req'd parts for the swap), as the crappy Lockhart Philips flush mount units i used on my bike ended up with the bulbs getting insanely hot and melting the stupid plastic covers (go figure), and now none of my turn signals work at all!

thanks, and good luck with the conversion on yer own bike!

 

(Whispers)
"...If you ask for it, he will do it..."


Here ya go Chris. Incidently, the reason your LP FM lenses melted (cause one of mine did too), is because moisture got inside the bayonet socket and caused rust... or! the bulb lost contact with one of the two contact points. This situation will cause the resistance to go up in the contact areas, and if your bulb is a good one, it will not pop, but the radiated heat... as you know... will melt the cheap acrylic. Acrylic has a Tg (Glass transitioning point; aka "softening point for plastics") of about 385 °F.

Have fun swappin em out. I did. Love em too. I am going to do my headlight and custom break light there after, next.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/body-modifications/25140-87-700f2-led-blinker-install.html

 

dude...ghost...seriously...you just rock.