I'm a too quick flasher!

[sirain]

Are they any electrical gurus out there who can help me sort out my LED indicators which flash too quickly on my 2013 Tiger Sport. 
I purchased both the LED indicators and resistors off Amazon. The indicators, wired in without resistors, work except for they have a far too rapid flash rate.  I thought I had solved the problem when I wired in two of the four resistor’s that I purchased, in between the rear LED flashers and the wiring harness. When I did this and tried the flashers with the ignition turned on (but not yet the engine), bingo, the flash rate was perfect and the front indicators were also flashing at the correct rate, even though I had not put resistors onto the front flashers. However, my joy was short lived, because as soon as I started the engine, they stopped flashing altogether. Damn.
Fearing that I had blown my Tiger Sport's flasher system, I took the resistors off the back flashers, and was relieved to see that they started working again, but still with the rapid flash rate. I then tried two new resistors out of the 4-pack I had purchased, and as before the flash rate slowed to perfect (front and back)  with only the ignition turned on, but then stopped working altogether when I started the engine. Aaagggghhhh. So I took the resistors off the back flashers and tried them on the front ones, to see if this made any difference. In this configuration, my flashers don’t work at all. So, the latest position is that I have removed the resistors altogether and I’m back to working flashers but far too rapid flash rate.
I’m not an electrician (as I am sure this post shows) so would be super grateful for any advise from those more knowledgeable than I? 

[Sidewinder]

I think you need to put them in parallel with the 'bulb' not in series as you seem to be describing you did..

[ZuluTiger]

Sidey is on the money. Wire in parallel and you are adding a dummy load to mimic the old incandescent bulb. You only typically need one resistor per side. Also, connect the resistor between the two wires at the indicator, do not ground one side to the frame or you will create a bad return path.

https://2020cadillac.com/led-load-resistor-wiring-diagram/why-do-you-need-load-resistors-for-led-turn-signal-lights-youtube-led-load-resistor-wiring-diagram/

[sirain]

Thanks Zulu Tiger, I am going to try this today, as I had wired them in series before. 
Do you know whether the resistors have a direction to respect or can they be used either way?
There are 4 wires on each resistor, two yellow and 2 black on each side. If I understand right, to make this parallel wiring connection, the 2 yellows from each resisistor are connected to the yellow of the indicator and that of of the wiring harness (so basically 4 wires come together) and same thing for the 4 blacks?

[sirain]

…..and thanks too Sidewinder

[sirain]

Ok, so I wired one of the resistors in parallel to my back right, but exactly the same problem as when in series - all works fine with only the ignition turned on (ie flash rate correct) but as soon as I start the motor they stop working. Any ideas?

[Yellow Dog]

Isn't it easier and less messy to change the flasher relay for an LED spec one?

[T800XC]

It looks to me as though your resistor values are a bit high. Typically you want each indicator to be seen as a load of 700-800mA if comparing with 12V 10W incandescent lamps.

When voltage is applied and current starts to flow the filament heats up, increasing the resistance. That said, the following figures were measured on one of my old 12V 10W indicator bulbs:-

Voltage	Current	Power
12.0V	720mA	8.64W
13.8V	770mA	10.63W
14.4V	785mA	11.30W

You need to determine the current drawn by the replacement LEDs and subtract that from, say 750mA. Then the resistance required can be easily calculated.

Based on the Amazon photos they've supplied you with 60 ohm resistors which suggests the LEDs are drawing around 500mA, which seems a lot. It's the same as the powerful Denali T3 LEDs.

First step, if you haven't got a meter to measure the current, is to wire a resistor in parallel with each indicator and see if that fixes your problem. Ideally you only need one resistor per side, but only if it's the correct value.

[Paulr5604]

Originally Posted by Yellow Dog

Isn't it easier and less messy to change the flasher relay for an LED spec one?

I agree with Yellow Dog. I put LED indicators on my old bike and replaced the flasher relay with one rated for LED lights problem solved and no cutting into the wiring

[T800XC]

Originally Posted by Paulr5604

I agree with Yellow Dog. I put LED indicators on my old bike and replaced the flasher relay with one rated for LED lights problem solved and no cutting into the wiring

Not sure about the OP's 2013 model, but a lot of Triumphs since around 2012 don't use flasher relays because the indicators are controlled directly from the instruments.