Turn Signal Relay for LED bulbs help

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by GaryN, Mar 22, 2021.

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  1. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    Hey All:

    So now that I have my '99 all apart adding the Roadster Cycle R/R, amongst other things, I thought I might as well start changing to LED bulbs. I did some searching but didn't not find anything. Of course it would have been easy to miss.

    I might go with Super Bright LEDS, but they are trying to tell me I don't need to change the flasher. Well, I had to on my '20 Tracer and '16 Fz09, so, I cannot image a '99 Honda will not need an update.

    There is one company I found that I think has the right flasher - CustomLED. I may have used their offering on my '20 Tracer. Still trying to figure out the model number to use. I have heard mixed reviews on them. But all this stuff is China made so who knows.

    Any help, advice, etc on this topic would be great.

    By the way, I think Jack's Roadster Cycle R/R kit seems really good. The R/R is a lot bigger but his universal mounting bracket worked well. Also added his Volt Meter which is just a light bulb that glows different colors based on the charging. Just installed all last night. Waiting for the new battery to charge up to see if I messed things up or not!

    Gary
     
  2. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    The OEM three-way connector may not fit aftermarket flasher relays, dunno... I used Superbright LED's and needed load resistors, which I installed in the tail. Perhaps they have bulbs with the resistors built in?, I did not investigate that.......
     
  3. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    Just spoke with Custom LED and they gave me the part number to try out. I'll let everyone know how it works out. Trying to avoid the load resistor route if I can help it.
     
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  4. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Can't speak toward the bulbs in our bikes, but a friend had a 2006 vintage Chevy Silverado which he replaced to LED signal lights. I asked him about the resistors and he told me some of the new LED bulbs have that resistor built into the bulb. I have LED tail and brake lights in mine and they do not require a resistor, but then they do not flash either.
     
  5. Sp00ks

    Sp00ks New Member

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    I've been wanting to do this myself and also didn't want to go the resistor route. This mod just hasn't made it to the top of the priority list yet. Please let us know what you find out. I also searched and didn't find anything.
     
  6. tirso

    tirso New Member

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    This is the relay I used:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJ5SVXQ
    You'll have to trim the tab on top, and use a zip tie to hold it in place using the stock rubber holder.
    Works fine.
    And these are the LED's I used:
    https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...n-27-smd-led-tower-wedge-retrofit/3554/12871/
    2 in red for tail/brake light and 4 in Amber for front and rear turn signals.

    I was curious and tested the LED's with stock 5th Gen relay, got hyperflashing.
    Installed the relay and all worked well.

    $10.19 Relay, (Prime Eligible)
    $29.90 Red, tail/brake light
    $29.90 Amber, front turn signal
    $29.90 Amber, rear turn signal
    $04.90 SuperBright Shipping
    $107.59 Total

    Excellent bright LED's, work well with above relay.
    Though with my present bike build, decided to go back to stock bulbs.

    Was not looking to sell, but if there's interest, send PM.
    They're in their original boxes.
     
  7. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    I went with the CustomLED flasher that I’ve used before. Not here as yet. Also went with Motorcycleid.com for the LED bulbs and chose the RaceSport brand. Hope to get all installed in the next few days. About $150 for all.

    For sure it will be an easy install since I have all the panels off. Will pass along the result soon.
     
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  8. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    So for whoever is interested. The CustomLED flasher works fine with the stock bulbs so it should work fine with LED’s, right?

    Just received the LED bulbs and plugged them in for a test. The brightness compared to 1999 bulbs is fantastic. But for some reason I can’t get the left side to blink. Right side is fine. And the front parking lights don’t seem to work. But I don’t have the headlights in yet so maybe that causes an issue with LED’s? Wishful thinking since the stock bulbs all work correctly without the headlights connected. Will have to try again tomorrow. Guess I have some trouble shooting to do.

    Seems like the bulbs don’t have a direction relative to sitting in the socket. Will swap things around to see.

    Anyone have this issue?
     
  9. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    So, I managed to get all the LED lights to work correctly. Nice and bright. But, the headlight bulb tabs are different than stock. Stock only has one tab, the LED has three. Now I'm not sure what to do. And I don't think the spring clip that holds the stock headlight bulb in is gonna work.

    Anyone solve this problem?
     
  10. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    I think I have found there are better sources for the LED Headlights. Back to searching.

    Still, if anyone has done this recently, please let me know how you accomplished the task.

    Thanks!

    Gary
     
  11. tirso

    tirso New Member

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    Stock 5th Gen headlights along with many other Honda motorbikes from the '90's have stock tabs that are not exactly the same as H4. Cut the bottom pair. I've been using H4 bulbs with cut tabs since my first 5th gen in '01. Also, to fit LED headlights, you may have to reshape the spring.
    LED's can be a good thing IF you find the right set. Recently there was an excellent thread on the other forum regarding conversion. Good info here:
    https://www.vfrdiscussion.com/index...350-headlight-upgrade-suggestion-for-vfr750f/

    FYI Partzilla has stock 5th gen bulbs at $32.66
    https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/34901-MS2-671
     
  12. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    The tabs on my current bulbs are bent back. But the bulbs (one side anyway) do not fit well. The headlight housing tabs look more like that of an H7 bulb. Anyway, I returned the Race-Sport headlight bulbs. They were of no help. I actually bought these through MotorcycleID. And taking them off my list of places to buy stuff.

    CustomLED has been very helpful. I had heard negative things about them but my experience is otherwise. I had their blaster tail light on my Tracer and it worked well. Their flasher fits and works well on the VFR.

    I spent some time with them today on the phone and email and they have indicated I should be able to use their bulbs with the spring clips in the housing. So, I'm returning one set and ordering another. As usual, nothing is as easy as it seems. But considering the huge improvement in brightness, I'll get it together one way or another.
     
  13. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    If anyone is interested, the CustomLED headlight bulbs work great. They have a removable collar. There are two tabs that need to come off. The collar then fits like a stock bulb with the spring clip holding it in place. The LED bulb then screws into the collar. All the bulbs and lights work great including the flasher.
     
  14. Sp00ks

    Sp00ks New Member

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  15. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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  16. Sp00ks

    Sp00ks New Member

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    Stupid question time.... This one plugs in and replaces the stock one. You just have to be a little creative mounting it? I just want to be sure before ordering. I just don't really want to do resistors if I don't have to.
     
  17. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    Nothing about this stuff is a stupid question. The stock Flasher sits in a rubber piece behind the dash with a weather proof connector. The CustomLED flasher plugs into the connector and kinda dangles. It's about half the size of the stock one. It's debatable if its totally water proof, but it seems fine. Especially since I avoid storms! I can send a picture if you'd like. Text me and I'll reply with a pic a little later. 301.509.1233.

    Gary
     
  18. Cherryriver

    Cherryriver New Member

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    Here's what I did with mine. The flasher is a different generic from Amazon, but amazingly (pun intended) the power wires' polarity was reversed. This was noted in one of the Amazon reviews, so I wasn't too surprised. A minute with a tiny screwdriver and I reversed the red and black leads and it worked.
    There is a bit of excess cable so I just looped it around and zip-tied the whole thing in the location of the OEM flasher relay.
    I tape-wrapped the connectors' joint for a little waterproofing.
    A fairly simple thing to do apart from the cowling removal/install, and my LED turn signal lamps all work fine.

    VFR LED flasher installation.jpg
     
  19. VFRdylee

    VFRdylee New Member

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    Did you have any issues with the direction of the beams? After changing to the Superbright LEDs, my low beams we more like high beams and my high beams were like much more focused, like flashlight beams. I tried rotating the bulbs with no success. Could it be the LEDs are not compatible with the stock bulb reflectors.?
     
  20. GaryN

    GaryN New Member

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    I hope not. Been wondering about the reflectors.

    Have not gotten that far yet. Still waiting for some parts to get here. Ive been relying on John from CustomLED. He tells me all have to do is rotate the bulb for alignment. And you have those same instructions.

    I’ve just testing if I’m working or not. The front fairing is still off the bike.

    Sorry. No help for you.
     
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