
Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
- Elmobile
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:35 pm
- Location: Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500SE
Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
I was having a lot of issues with my turn signals behavior. Not picking up correctly and not staying on for long among others. For a while I thought that the self cancelling unit was bad but based on advice from this forum, I decided to first clean the switches. It did not solved my issue as it turned out to be related to corrosion in a connector (Green) above the left fan. However it was still a good thing to do. I took a few pictures and wanted to share them. Hope it may help someone else...

To put it back together? Just reverse order, you know 
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1766
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
Nice write-up
Good precautions on disassembly using the tray and ziplock bag - you got a good picture of little parts that like to try to escape-never-to-be-seen-again!
I've done switch surgery before on other bikes, need to do it on the 1500. Cruise-on button is iffy (I got cruise to come on, just leave it on now), the mute button for the stereo sticks, it took an hour of fiddling with it to unmute the stereo, and the hazard flasher button only flashes the left side.
And I need to fix the start button in the 1100, it starts the bike just fine but have to jiggle it to get the headlight to come back on.


I've done switch surgery before on other bikes, need to do it on the 1500. Cruise-on button is iffy (I got cruise to come on, just leave it on now), the mute button for the stereo sticks, it took an hour of fiddling with it to unmute the stereo, and the hazard flasher button only flashes the left side.
And I need to fix the start button in the 1100, it starts the bike just fine but have to jiggle it to get the headlight to come back on.

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- Elmobile
- Posts: 252
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:35 pm
- Location: Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500SE
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
Thanks,
I've also done the flasher and cruise control switches. Lots of pics also. I didn't post any as there is already a few posts about them.
Those two are very similar and much more of a pain to put back together. But with a little patience and a few choice traditional Canadian words
, it is quite doable...
I can send you pics if you'd like.
I have to put the resume switch on my to do list... Should have done it when the handle was opened... Will do them all next time, including the kill switch which has a reputation to go bad on you.
I've also done the flasher and cruise control switches. Lots of pics also. I didn't post any as there is already a few posts about them.
Those two are very similar and much more of a pain to put back together. But with a little patience and a few choice traditional Canadian words

I can send you pics if you'd like.
I have to put the resume switch on my to do list... Should have done it when the handle was opened... Will do them all next time, including the kill switch which has a reputation to go bad on you.
- wezx
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:16 am
- Location: Munroe Falls, OH - United States
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
Yeah! Great write up and photos! My mute switch used to stick but I just kept working it with contact cleaner and WD40 and it works well now. The cruise control sticks but I just leave it on all the time. Not really sure why you would need to turn it off anyway? My hazards also do the left side only thing but after working the switch for a bit they both come on. I so rarely use the hazards I just keep working the switch until they come on as opposed to tearing it apart LOL
- wezx
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:16 am
- Location: Munroe Falls, OH - United States
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
As far as the kill switch mine works fine but I’ve gotten in the habit of just turning the bike off with the key and leaving the switch on “Run” all the time. Hasn’t caused any problems...been doing it that way for maybe a year? I am curious why there are 2 “Offs” on the kill switch?
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 1766
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
1980 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
1993 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
1983 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
1972 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
1978 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
1977 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
Don't think I've ever used the kill switch (except accidentally
) Rarely fail, the most common failure on them from what I hear is the screws holding the wires to the terminals work loose.

♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫

♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪

~Mark
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 21813
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: Turn Signals Switches Clean-Up
I rarely use mine, but I do occasionally - usually at a border crossing or something when I'm already using one hand to hold something (i.e. passport) and I can't let go of the handlebars with my remaining hand to get to the ignition switch.DenverWinger wrote: ↑Fri May 15, 2020 6:27 am Don't think I've ever used the kill switch (except accidentally) Rarely fail, the most common failure on them from what I hear is the screws holding the wires to the terminals work loose.