Problem getting new indicators to work
 

I'm sorry to keep bugging you guys with my electrical problems but I've got another head-scratching issue with the new indicators I'm fitting to replace the broken ones on my bike. I'm using cheapy Ryde indicators (saving the budget for more important bits). The back ones work fine with the existing indicators but as soon as I replace the front ones they stop flashing and just shine dully instead. I've swapped the indicators around so know that's not where the fault lies. It does this on both sides. When I put the original front ones back on everything works fine again so the system seems to be ok. I don't know what the wattage of the new indicators is - no mention of it anywhere - but wondered if it was possible they were overloading the flasher relay? As usual, any advice will be very gratefully received.

You could meassure ohm on the stock ones and compare to the new.

The new ones are morelikely to be lower wattage than the stockers.

Thanks Jens. I just did as you suggested and the ones that were on before (not stock but fitted by a PO) read 1.4 ohms. The new ones (all of them) read 4.3 ohms so I guess this is where the problem is. Do you know if it is possible to get a more powerful flasher relay able to handle this?

The globes are of less power ... probably 10 watt rather than 21 watt. If your happy to have dim indicators that some will be less likely to see .. then fitting a solid state flasher relay might work. Of course you could fit 21 watt globes and hope that the housings can handle the heat .. if that is what was originally fitted.

From my very limited understanding of what I have found out about Ohms law that makes sense. Fortunately the new ones are brighter than the old because they are amber bulbs inside a clear lens housing. So am I right in thinking that the flasher relay might not be working because the new bulbs are a lower wattage? And if that's the case should I be looking for a different kind of flasher relay?

Yes because the new bulbs are lower wattage the relay won't flash.
You could try an LED Adjustable Flasher like this
Motorcycle Turn Signal Indicator 12V 2Pin Speed Adjustable LED Flasher Relay ZR | eBay
Not sure if the adjustment will be sufficient to work with your bulbs since it's designed to work with LED bulbs, but it's cheap and maybe worth a try.

Bob

Lower wattage bulbs (usually LEDS) often cause rapid flashing or always on but still bright , odd that they'ed be dim unless they are really just that dim compared to the old ones . I put LED flashers on my bikes when swapping to all LED bulbs , though I used a little higher quality ones hoping to not have failures down the road. Here's a pile of options .

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...relay&_sacat=0

If he reads more OHMs on the new ones fitted it wont help with a LED relay, LEDs have less OHM and you need a resistor or a new relay. What data do the relay have? Change bulbs with the old ones if they fit.