turn signals

[Ken Arms]

I bought a rather cheap column mounted turn signal unit at a show, just trying to see it work before I permanently wire it up. I bought a 6v flasher but It does not say pos ground. I ran power to the X terminal of flasher, then a direct wire to one front light up to the correct wire of unit for that light. I connected both other flasher wires to there corresponding wires of the unit and I get nothing except a dim glow from the tip of the turn sig lever. Should I be using a pos ground flasher? BTW its a 52 F1 positive ground 6v...confused Ken

[adileo]

When I added my turn signals it came with a six volt pos grd signal flasher. So I suspect it's needed. The number on flasher is 535 and Its a thermal flasher, if that helps

[JSeery]

Flashers should not require polarity. Are you sure you have it wired up correctly? Did it come with a wiring diagram? They are not a simple just connect it to a few wires type of deal.

[D. Jones]

From my experience when something electrical doesn't make sense "check the ground".

[Jersey Devil]

Ken
Unit needs to be grounded. If not on the vehicle run a wire from the ground side of the battery or fasten the unit to the steering column.

Hope this helps,

Tom

[DD931]

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The flasher unit needs at least a minimum amount of current to flash. If there's not enough current, the bi-metallic element won't get hot enough to open the contact. That's why it won't flash when you have a burned-out turn signal light bulb. You need to have a full set of lights in your test circuit. Typical circuits for seven-wire turn signal switches are readily available. Good luck!!

[JSeery]

I can provide a diagram(s) if you need them.

[TJ]

Those type of units need a good ground to work. It needs to be mounted on the column to make the ground or run a wire to the unit housing from a good ground source. Had the same problem when I mounted it on the column and put a piece of rubber under the clamp so as not to scratch the paint on the column. To cure the problem I soldered a wire to the back side of the housing and ran the wire down with the other wires and put the wire to a good ground on the dash.

[Rustyspokes]

Ken.. Google 6 volt turn signal diagrams, is a good start, if you have a number on the signal light flasher unit that's even better I got one at a swap meet for my 34 and followed the diagram and the signals work great, I used separate lamps for the signals , cheers Rus...

[Ken Arms]

Thanks all, I got it, I think it was a poor ground at the column. Ken

[JSeery]

LOL, like stated always the grounds!

[Drbrown]

Assuming your turn unit has a wiring harness (often 7 wires), the black wire is the ground wire. Grounding on the steering column may not work unless you remove the paint on it.

[J Witt]

I always run a separate ground wire for these. Usually you can find a convenient ground somewhere under the dash.

This helps prevent a bad ground connection from column contact, and is essential if you don't want to scratch through the paint on the column.

John