Replacement "Indicator" bulbs

[abronco1]

Does anyone know of a place (website, retailer, etc) that sells the replacement bulbs for the "High Beam", Turn Signal indicator lights?  They're 12 volt and 1.7 and 3.4 amps (very tiny I believe).  Any help is appreciated!  BTW, I got the sizes of the bulbs in the Clymer manual, thanks!!

[70 Cam Guy]

If you're talking about the stock, turn signal light bulbs, those are model 1156 Sylvania's.  Get them at any local auto parts place except Napa because all they carry is their Napa brand rubbish.  

If you're talking about the miniature bulbs that come in flush mounts, I had to go to Cyclegear.  None of the auto places had bulbs with the correct wattages.  It is a 12V23W (12 volt 23 watt) single filiment bulb.

[Alphamazing]

I think he's talking about the bulbs that illuminate the plastic covers on the guage clusters. The indicators that your high beams are on or you have a turn signal on.

[70 Cam Guy]

ohh, the dash lights or guage cluster lights

I don't know where to buy those.  I bet the stealer carries them  

[davipu]

they are just standard 194 bulbs, any parts store will carry them

[abronco1]

Thanks for the suggestions!  Yes, I was referring to the bulbs that illuminate the plastic Blue and Green indicator covers stating that your high beams are on and if your turn signals are still on.  They'are standard 194 bulbs?  I'll make sure to check out a local hardware store to pick 'em up, thanks again!!

[RVertigo]

any parts store will carry them

YUP!  I have those exact same 194 bulbs in my Ford.

You can get LEDs for those, since the illumination is directional (unlike in the Spedo/Tack)...  Just look up 194 LED and you find a few dozen pages with them...  You can find 'em on ebay too.

Although...  There might be fit issues...   :dunno:   The bulbs are cheap, so it may not be worth the hassle.

[Alphamazing]

If you want to change out the bulbs behind the tach and speedo, they are 194R bulbs, also available at any autoparts store.

[ginoe]

what a timely thread!

at 3800mi my tach light is out (though it could have been sooner, i don't ride much at night).

[Alphamazing]

I know I'm going to change out my tach and speedo bulbs with blue ones, just to continue the whole blue theme I've got going on with my bike. It looks cleaner that way, too.

[RedShift]

I just replaced the Speedometer backlight.  Had I known there was an LED replacement, I would have foregone the $2 dealer bulb.

Although brighter, they should last longer and draw less power.  Sure 3.4w is peanuts, but the LED would draw a mere 0.024w.

I'd like to see the little fellas personally before buying, but if the local AutoZone carries them, I may walk out with a bag of them, and perhaps a few 1156's/1157's for the signals and tail lights.  

[RVertigo]

Had I known there was an LED replacement

The problem is that LEDs are directional...  The Speedo and Tach are set up to take light from the side of the bulb, not the top.

Someone has a thread or five about them...  I bet starwalt could tell you all about it.

[marc]

I replaced a couple of mines with a 5W ones.

[starwalt]

... I bet starwalt could tell you all about it.

I thought I felt a disturbance in the force...

LED replacements are fine everywhere (when installed correctly) except the turn signal indicator. The turn signal indicator bulb uses the unused set of turn signal lamps for its negative connection to the battery/frame (earth, ground, return).

There, that should have cleared things up.  

[RVertigo]

IOW...  Don't use LED for Turn Signal indicator...  But, get a SUPER BRIGHT for your oil light!   :mrgreen:

[Rema1000]

I last changed my indicator bulbs in 2004.  After 2 years, 3 out of 4 were burnt-out (hey, the oil light still worked, and that's the only one you really need ).

I bought 4 single-LED 194's from MacEwenMotorsports ( http://www.macewenmotorsports.com/subrle.html ): $4 x 4 + $4 s/h = $20. I bought the single-LED bulbs, because it looked like the 4xLED bulbs were maybe a little bit wider than stock 194s at the bulb end:

versus

Their automated order system notified me:

This email is to confirm the receipt of your recent order from Macewen Motorsports.

Please allow 3-4 business days for your order to be processed and shipped.

... but it took 7 business days before they shipped.  Oh well, at least they added 2 free bulbs to my order.

Verdict: definitely dimmer than a 194 bulb.   I'd recommend that somebody try the 6-LED nonpolarized 194's from http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR instead:

They may work in the turn signal indicator too:

non-polarized so they will also work in polarity reversing marker light applications.

And they're $3 each.

[davipu]

I've been running the single leds from superbright  and i still feel that they are too bright with the white faced gauges. with the stock bulbs and the white faces you can't ride at night, it's like having a flashlight pointed at you the whole time.