Re condition turn signal switch

My signal turn switch works ok when the weather is warm, fail to switch when cold. I opened the assembly a couple times to clean it, problem went away for a few days and then it happens again.
Does any one know how to re condition this switch?

 

Could be the earth?

 

I think it may be something to do with the electrical contact. I cleaned the switch with WD 40, it works good for a while, then the problem returns. Do I need to apply a bit of grease after cleaning?

 

as above, try removing the grounds(frame connections) and cleaning them, failing that replace the diodes for the turn signals. to answer your qquestion, oen clean, fil with dielectric grease, reassemble. replace if broken.

 

I took mine apart a couple years ago for the same reason. Cleaned it up with an assortment of solvents and WD40. I think I lubed it with Petroleum Jelly. Then I took it to the shop for someone who knew what they were doing could fix it. Easy as that. But not everyone is as talented as I. Good luck.

 

That's funny. Mine is the exact same way. If the temperature is below 65F, there is about a 10-20 second delay. If its warmer, comes on within a second or two. And if we hit 80F, then its immediately.

How can a turn signal be subject to cold weather? Are these diodes temperature sensitive?

 

My signal switch is also sort of "sticky" until it gets warm. I figured I just have to open it up and clean. Seems like I need to be real observant when I work on it.

I'm thinking that old grease can get real thick and put a barrier between contacts when cold. If it heats up, it "smooshes" easier and you might now get contact. I better really clean things well with mineral spirits, then WD-40 and some good dielectric grease.

Jose

 

I honestly believe what you are running into here is a dry and dirty switch. Depending on the conditions you ride in. As I ride in some pretty nasty shit, my switch became sticky fairly early in its life. Cleaning it up, I found out the hard way, is really not that difficult. Where I went wrong is not reading any material. I just dove in and started taking things apart. As springs and little things bounced all over the garage, I realized the errors of my ways. There are tiny springs and a very tiny ball bearing in there. Make sure your work area is immaculately clean. Cover the floor with some white paper so you can see these things if they pop out. A bed sheet would probably work best as things don't bounce as much on that.

Clean it up inside. WD40 is an excellent cleaner. A rasonable lubricant for about 10 minutes and that is about it. I suggest some sort of graphite spray lube would be excellent but use very little in there. It will attract the dirt and grime. I use a product for all intricate lubrication on my bycycle called Tri-Flo. You can get it as a spray or a small bottle with a dropper. That is what I use because you need so little of it. Fabulous stuff that is.

But back to mine, when the parts flew all over the place, I simply took it into the shop. I don't really enjoy working on a bike. and back then I could afford to pay someone else to do just that. Now I am on fixed income so have to learn.

 

I worry about Tri-Flow and other graphite containing lubricants as they are conductive. Dielectric grease won't conduct, but will protect and lubricate. Althought in theory it could also thicken over time and break the contact of the switch.

Wait a minute. I wonder if that IS what Honda put in there from the factory? :doh:

Jose

 

Last time when I clean it, I only opened the top cover to expose these contacts, rainsed with a bit of solvent, then followed by WD40. I imagine this will clean up the grease on the contacts. Indeed the cleaning helped for the first couple weeks. After that, same problem again. That's why i think perhaps it need to spray some coating to protect.
For cleaning, does it make a difference if i take the entire assembly apart?