Brighter Turn Signals

[JimB]

I went on a short ride with another Wee the other night. I didn't realize until then how pitifully dim the turn signals are.

So, what have you done to brighten them up? New bulbs? Reflective tape on the back of the housing?

How difficult is an LED conversion?

[csr67]

Easy fix.. Go to your local Home Depot or Lowe's and buy a role of the reflective foil tape. One roll is about $5, and it'll do approx. 300 turn signals. Open each signal, pop out the bulb holder and line the interior with the shiny tape. Replace bulb/lens and watch your signal brightness increase by about 200%.

[JimB]

Are you talking about the aluminum ducting tape?

I don't have a Home Depot or any other large home type store near me, I'll have to order some.

Something like this: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtMX&VLXfyEV76EbHSHVs6EVs6E666666--

...or perhaps something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/mil-REFLECTIVE-FOIL-TAPE-ROLL/dp/B000XZGD2Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1214693111&sr=1-3

[Compared To What?]

Just after I bought my 6Fiddy I did a conversion to 21W halogen bulbs.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/Compared2What/Cycle%20Stuff/Garage/50HalogenFlasher-2.jpg

Removed the OE bulb and made up connectors for the wires...EZ install, very bright.

Initially I was worried about vibration ... but in 4 years it turned out to be a Non-issue.http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a296/Compared2What/Cycle%20Stuff/Garage/HalogenFlasher-1.jpg

[JimB]

That's pretty cool. After 4 years, I guess there's no concern for heat issues.

[Tollster]

I went on a short ride with another Wee the other night. I didn't realize until then how pitifully dim the turn signals are.

So, what have you done to brighten them up? New bulbs? Reflective tape on the back of the housing?

How difficult is an LED conversion?

I got some carboard egg cartons from my fridge, crumpled some aluminum foil, then rubber cemented it in to the egg carton, and placed this behind the light bulbs.
Price was 2.00, including breakfast.

[Compared To What?]

That's pretty cool. After 4 years, I guess there's no concern for heat issues.

Glad you reminded me ... I tested them for heat after the install by leaving them blinking for the better part of five minutes. Warm yes, hot no.

[csr67]

Are you talking about the aluminum ducting tape?

I don't have a Home Depot or any other large home type store near me, I'll have to order some.

Something like this: http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtMX&VLXfyEV76EbHSHVs6EVs6E666666--

...or perhaps something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/mil-REFLECTIVE-FOIL-TAPE-ROLL/dp/B000XZGD2Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1214693111&sr=1-3

Yes, it's the foil tape shown in your second link. You should be able to find some at any hardware store. It's plenty shiny to reflect more light. There are absolutely no reflectors of any kind in the stock signal housings....

[WeThereYet]

Pull the covers and paint the housings white inside. Uber bright.

[JimB]

I think I'll try the foil tape first. Thanks guys :-)

Always a wealth of knowledge here.

[jackpiner57]

I found some 50w 1156 style bulbs at the local auto parts store. They plug right in and cost $2.47 ea. They are noticeably brighter. I think I'll add the reflective tape to the housings next.

[George Johnson]

There was a thread on this when I first found this site about a year ago. Just use heavy duty aluminum foil from your kitchen to line the signals. Works just fine and costs virtually nothing.

"Course you don't get the satisfaction of hunting and gathering. But the instant gratification should be worth something.:p

[av8or]

i was thinking of taking my dremel, buffing up the inside of the rear housing, then using testors model paint (chrome or silver depending on what i can find) to increase reflectance, should be easier than trying to dice up tape on it

[garandman]

Yes, it's the foil tape shown in your second link. You should be able to find some at any hardware store. It's plenty shiny to reflect more light. There are absolutely no reflectors of any kind in the stock signal housings....
Any auto parts store will have it as well.

[Nightshift]

Has anyone tried replacing the bulbs with the led 1156's? I have no experience with led's but I would think they would be brighter and less of a load on the system.

[jackpiner57]

How about glueing some plastic mirror pieces in there? I think I'll try that.

[Firefly]

I did the aluminum foil trick after seeing what it did for Stromette's bike. Then someone posted about using the reflector from a flashlight. Got out the dremel and got one to fit. It was absolutely no brighter than the foil.

[Kawidad]

Has anyone tried replacing the bulbs with the led 1156's? I have no experience with led's but I would think they would be brighter and less of a load on the system.

You can do it, and it will be brighter. However, you have to be mindful of the load ratings in order to make the flasher work properly. Or you have to replace the flashing unit with one specifically made for LED lights. Or you can place a resistor to increase the load, which all makes for a lot of work.

[quema]

Don't Nuke this out.

1. Go to your kitchen
2. Get tinfoil
3. Go to garage
4. Remove lens covers with philips screw driver
5. Remove bulb
6. Smooth the foil in behind the socket
7. Replace bulb
8. Replace lens cover
9. Replace foil in kitchen
10. Procedure complete

Okay, so there I went, I nuked it out. Really, the foil, imperfectly placed behind the bulb will do wonders... it is so bright, anything else is wasted effort. This should only take 1 minute a blinker including the time to remove the lens.

By the time I typed this, I could have done all four of your blinkers.

[JimB]

Quema, gonna have to give that a shot first. Thanks.

[terrierterrorNH]

Quema,
No glue involved?

[jwt]

Another scotch 3M foil tape 3311 user here. Much better from the reflections I see off of people's tailgates. Have clear lenses too.

[WTF1K]

Used some foil tape from my old aircraft maintenance days. Not sure if this company even exists anymore. I think the tape/foil thing works just fine.

[Marauder]

It looks like the '08s at least use orange lamps with clear lenses in the DL 1000s and clear lamps with orange lenses in the DL 650s???

I like the look of the clear lenses better but don't know which type is brighter.

[av8or]

Used some foil tape from my old aircraft maintenance days. Not sure if this company even exists anymore. I think the tape/foil thing works just fine.


speed tape, was gonna snag a roll fora weekend from our mechanics but they only had the one and i didn't wanna leave them with nothing to cover up holes in our planes with lol

[WTF1K]

It looks like the '08s at least use orange lamps with clear lenses in the DL 1000s and clear lamps with orange lenses in the DL 650s???

I like the look of the clear lenses better but don't know which type is brighter.

Anyone put yellow LED's behind the '08 clear lenses yet?

speed tape, was gonna snag a roll fora weekend from our mechanics but they only had the one and i didn't wanna leave them with nothing to cover up holes in our planes with lol

I thought someone would recognize it.:cheers2:

[fredellarby]

Don't Nuke this out.

1. Go to your kitchen
2. Get tinfoil
3. Go to garage
4. Remove lens covers with philips screw driver
5. Remove bulb
6. Smooth the foil in behind the socket
7. Replace bulb
8. Replace lens cover
9. Replace foil in kitchen
10. Procedure complete

Okay, so there I went, I nuked it out. Really, the foil, imperfectly placed behind the bulb will do wonders... it is so bright, anything else is wasted effort. This should only take 1 minute a blinker including the time to remove the lens.

By the time I typed this, I could have done all four of your blinkers.


+1
neat, easy, bright

[Chuck0334]

:rolleyes:Hello Riders---Just brought home new to me Dl1000--02 yr. I checked my turn lights and mine have a metal reflector behind the bulb. I guess they dit it right in 02. Love my storm, Chuck

[Mr.Metal]

:rolleyes:Hello Riders---Just brought home new to me Dl1000--02 yr. I checked my turn lights and mine have a metal reflector behind the bulb. I guess they dit it right in 02. Love my storm, Chuck

Can anyone else confirm this? Could this part be retrofitted on a newer 650?

[greywolf]

Pre '04 turn signals are different. Parts do not exchange.

[mgkelly]

I painted one of my signal pods with chrome paint and was not impressed. I did crumpled wad of foil and worked great. I then added clear lenses and Silverstar bulbs from autozone, now they really pop and have a cool blue color when off.

[XLonDL650]

I found some 50w 1156 style bulbs at the local auto parts store. They plug right in and cost $2.47 ea. They are noticeably brighter. I think I'll add the reflective tape to the housings next.

What autoparts store did you get these at ?

Have you noticed them melting your turn signal lenses ? Have they caused any electrical overload problems ?

I have Lockhart-Phillips Flush Mount III's.

[WeThereYet]

Just paint the insides gloss white. IMO it is even more reflective than foil.

[XLonDL650]

Just paint the insides gloss white. IMO it is even more reflective than foil.

I've already lined the insides with reflective tape.

It helped, but those halogens are supposed to be much brighter, and not very expensive.

I think the flushmount's are fine at night, but on a bright sunny day, some drivers might actually miss them when viewing from the front. Personally, I think they're O.K. under these conditions, but making them a little brighter might make the difference for some dense drivers.

I was just looking for Jackpiners response since he has tried them, and may even have Flushmount III's.

[Fourvalve]

The Penny Tech solution is aluminum foil from your kitchen, molded to the inside of the turn signal housing, plus, you can get slightly higher wattage bulbs at an Autozone. The 21 watt halogens are the ultimate fix!!! "Can you see me NOW!!!???"

[Arne]

A DIY LED gizmo:

http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/b...0516-001-1.flv

This was at night, I need to redo the video as the sensor seems overloaded in those settings.

[truax]

Krylon Fusion Spray Paint (made especially for plastics) works very well.

I spray some into the cap and painted it on. Drys less than an hour. I used white. I think they make a metallic too.

[water warrior]

The Penny Tech solution is aluminum foil from your kitchen, molded to the inside of the turn signal housing, plus, you can get slightly higher wattage bulbs at an Autozone. The 21 watt halogens are the ultimate fix!!! "Can you see me NOW!!!???"

I use 50 watt halogen bulbs and the signals are just acceptable to my eyes. Suzuki should learn to put a better lense on the signals and put in a decent reflector too.

[cdherlils]

I did the foil tape that I picked up from Home Depot. While I think that it did make a improvement on spreading the light around a bit and filling out the lens, it was not a super big difference. I have the clear lens with amber bulb.

I think that along with tape, more wattage is needed.

But overall.. I do not think that they are dim and can be seen during a sunny day.. Worth the $7 that I spent, and the 30 min to install.