Pages maintained by Rattlebars Mfg. Support our affiliates! Click above!
The information on these pages is accurate to the best of the author's knowledge. The author can assume no responsibility for the use or misuse of this information by the reader. The reader is expected to secure any other information needed from Service Manuals or other sources. It is up to the reader to determine his/her ability to make any modifications noted. If the reader does not feel qualified he/she should enlist professional help.
ANYTIME FOUR WAYS for FIVE BUCKS!
 For the GL1800 Gold Wing
 By Chet Walters

Click for Rattlebars Mfg.
Click for Chet's Wing Pages
The GL1800 Gold Wing has no flashing four way hazard lights unless the key is on or on ACC. PLUS! The switch is inadequate and prone to breaking. I never use it. When you find out just how easily and cheaply you can add this four way anytime safety feature to your GL1800, you will be doubly disappointed that Honda America neglected to include it in the package and supplied such a fragile substitute. This is a very easy mod which takes about an hour, requires little skill, and costs around five dollars or so. You will be pleased with the results. If you are handy and don't need details, just skip to the picture at the end of this article.

ADDING ANYTIME FOUR WAYS (works on all models)
TIME: 1 hour

MATERIALS
16-18 gauge wire
1 SPST toggle switch (Radio Shack 275-730 or equiv.)
1 splice-in wire connector (blue plastic or Walmart Tappit)
2 or 4 female quick disconnects (Radio Shack 64-3049)
1 Standard Duty Signal Flasher (Auto Zone 536/552-C)
1 in-line fuse holder with 15 amp fuse
weather resistant electrical tape or heat shrink
 TOOLS
Seat removal tools (phillips & 6mm allen)
soldering iron (for switch if needed)
wire cutters
wire strippers

The flasher should be the tin barrel type with two male spade connectors rated for six lamps (Auto Zone 536/552-C $2.89 or equivalent). If you haul a trailer with extra lights or have any extra lights installed in the signal flashing circuit, you may need a flasher that is rated for more than six lamps. This mod was thoroughly tested in conjunction with the stock flasher on the OEM turn signal circuit without mishap. If you have other than these signal flashers installed on the OEM circuit, I cannot guarantee that this will work with your setup.

Remove your backrest & pilot's seat. The timid might want to disconnect the negative battery terminal as a precaution at this time. Locate the black boot at the rear of the under seat area.  Locate the PINK/WHITE wire and tap into it with your splice or WalMart tappit connector.  Run a wire from that to one terminal on the flasher.  From the other terminal of the flasher, run a lead to your switch (mount switch wherever you find it convenient).  From the other lead of your switch, run a fused wire to any ALWAYS hot +12 from the battery.  You're done!  That was so easy, why didn't HONDA include it?

 



The bonus here is that you have switches that match and they are more reliable (so they say). The "fix" is only about $10 and the switches are protected by "relays" so they should last a good long time. This is true of the fog lamps if your fog lamps work with a relay already. If not, you should set them up with one (click here). The tin barrel flasher is "cold" and carries no current until the load causes it to trigger so it works somewhat like a relay - though your mileage may vary depending on your flasher.

If you wish your hazard flashers to work all the time any time key on or not, you can wire them to the battery as the power source. If you only want them to work with the key on like they do now, wire the power to the red accessory plug under the left pocket or use the Light Green/Black wire inside the panel housing which lights up the OEM switch. Bonus! The LED on your new switch blinks with the hazard flashers!

This is easy to wire up because the necessary PINK/WHITE and the GREEN for GROUND are there for the taking already. Depending on your choice, the LIGHT GREEN/BLACK is there too. That wire is the ACC +12v wire and it's ubiquitous but your flashers will only work when the key is on.  You can find a +12v wire likely nearby for the anytime selection and it would be RED/YELLOW but I have not looked for one since I had my power outlet already routed fused from the battery so I used it.

When you install the new switches, you can just "fold" your OEM hazard switch in with the flasher and bundle it right behind the panel so you can go back to "normal" on the hazard just about anytime you want.

Air-bag models may be different.

Questions? Contact Chet at Chet says 'Be sure to write!'Chetspages@rattlebars.com