Turn Signal Bulbs

[grubsie]

Is there any difference with different 1157 bulbs?

 

My right front turn signal bulb burnt out so I stopped at Autozone and bought a 2 pack of the Sylvania amber 1157 bulbs. Changed out the bulb and the running light worked but the turn signal blinked really fast and the left blinked normal. Tried switching the front bulbs then the left blinked really fast and the right blinked normal so I know it has something to do with the bulb. The burnt bulb and the still normal working bulb had "1157 NA" on them. The bulbs that were blinking fast had "1157 ALL" on them. They didn't have any other amber 1157's to choose so I stopped at the local mom and pop auto store and grabbed a couple of amber bulbs from them and they had the "1157 NA" on them and they worked perfectly. I went back in and bought 6 more for spares.

 

Oh, and all the 1157 NA bulbs say China on them.

 

I am stumped but also happy the turn signals are working OK.

[Flyinfool]

1157 defines the shape of the base. The "A" is for amber. The LL is for Long Life, this is often done by lowering the wattage of the bulb, a bulb that uses less power will cause the turn signal to flash faster.

[grubsie]

Thank you Flyinfool. I thought I was losing my mind. It's not what it used to be but it's not that far gone yet.......I hope.

[leo3wheel]

Guess you could use all low wattage bulbs and perform a flasher mod to correct the blinker rate, just as folks do with LED turn signals.

[Flyinfool]

Lower wattage bulbs are LESS bright. The last thing I want to do is reduce visibility on my bike. I made all of my lights brighter.

[MikeWa]

Ok I am confused. I thought the front turn signal bulb was a BAZ15d3 not an 1157. I didn't even think an 1157 would fit. Also blinking faster is due to a lower current flow . As happens when switching to leds due to the bypass type flasher unit. My brain is on overload so I think I will just take another dumb pill and go back to bed.

 

Mike

[Du-Rron]

Is there any difference with different 1157 bulbs?

 

 

I am stumped but also happy the turn signals are working OK.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?99952-upgrading-bulbs&highlight=2057

[bongobobny]

Ok I am confused. I thought the front turn signal bulb was a BAZ15d3 not an 1157. I didn't even think an 1157 would fit. Also blinking faster is due to a lower current flow . As happens when switching to leds due to the bypass type flasher unit. My brain is on overload so I think I will just take another dumb pill and go back to bed.

 

Mike

You can use the 1157's which are a lot cheaper! The difference is that the 1157 has only 2 prongs, not 3. You just cut or grind off one of the prongs and it works fine! I believe you keep the prong that is closest to the edge but I'm not sure, it's been many years since I converted to LED's

[slowrollwv]

On my 03 RSV it does take the 1157 bulb. They started to use the three prong bulbs at a later year, I think 06 or 07.