Is it feasible to fit an easier Direction Indicator switch?

[Flier Tuck]

2021 S2S. Here's a question for our electrical geniuses. Due to the ongoing problems with my left hand I'm finding it harder and harder to operate the direction switch. Would it be feasible to break into the harness and fit an easier to operate switch, looks of the mod. are of no consequence so long as I can use it.
Thanks in advance,
Alan.

 

[BertRemington]

No and Yes

FT -- the answer is No and Yes.

No: Your MSL-MSR (multi-function switch left and right) uses CANBUS 2.0b to communicate with the console to control the turn signals (the MSR uses wires to communicate cruise control switch actions to the MSL which then uses CANBUS to inform the console, ECM, etc). The MSL periodically (about every 200-300ms) sends CANBUS messages (340h 11-bit identifier for my CANBUS 2.0a Spyder) about turn switch press status: Left, Right and Center. I suspect the console waits for two consecutive messages with the same status value (0 or 1) to "debounce" the press (Left is word 2 bit 7, Right is word 2 bit 6, Center is word 2 bit 5). Therefore you can't override the MSL by injecting your own conflicting status messages on the CANBUS because the console wouldn't be confused -- it would just ignore them as transients to be debounced.

Yes: take the turn signal function away from the console. Not that hard but not for the timid. I'll say more on this in the near future (right now my Spyder looks like a rat-rod as I drive around without the bodywork).

 

[Bfromla]

Maybe avoid the electrical & look for button enlargement:dontknow: alternative joystick that could depress buttons instead opcorn Not knowing limitations of hand & range of motion, maybe just poke with other finger. Maybe a glove with extended tips various therapeutic items maybe helpful :dontknow:opcorn good luck

 

[Isopedella]

On my 2017 the button slides right off. You could build up the button and replace. I toyed with it as I have a damaged left thumb.

 

[Haze]

On my 2017 the button slides right off. You could build up the button and replace. I toyed with it as I have a damaged left thumb.

Can you provide more information on sliding off the button. I have a 2017 F3T. I would like a taller or bigger button.

 

[Isopedella]

Can you provide more information on sliding off the button. I have a 2017 F3T. I would like a taller or bigger button.

Sure. No worries . On my 2017 F3 Ltd, the black knob you push left and right is pushed onto a square mount attached to the unit. If you grab it or gently lever it away from the switch cluster towards the rear of the bike it will slide right off.

It looks like this.


Hope this helps ya out.

 

[Flier Tuck]

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for the inputs. The last time I worked in the motor trade "Can" was a food container and "Bus" was a mass transport vehicle. So what BertRemington was suggesting I think was my new switch with my new wires running to all the indicators as separate circuits, replacing the Can Bus circuit, am I correct. Easier for me to do than try and understand Can Bus technology.
Thanks again,
Alan.

 

[Jetfixer]

What was stated above about the switch and CANBUS is correct. You do not want to mess around with the wiring. My suggestion is to take off the switch button and have it thoroughly measured by someone that does 3D printing and have one fabricated to your specs.

 

[Mikey]

Or take the button off and take some JB weld, build it up and shape it any way you want with a dermal tool, grinder, file! It's worked for me in the past!!

 

[spyderbear]

try to find someone with a 3D printer , and have one printed that will meet your needs.

 

[Bfromla]

Update:dontknow:opcorn:

 

[Isopedella]

 

[Peter Aawen]

2021 S2S. Here's a question for our electrical geniuses. Due to the ongoing problems with my left hand I'm finding it harder and harder to operate the direction switch. Would it be feasible to break into the harness and fit an easier to operate switch, looks of the mod. are of no consequence so long as I can use it.
Thanks in advance,
Alan.

View attachment 200155

Nah, there's no way one of them's ^^ gonna work Iso! :lecturef_smilie:

No matter where you stick it up him, the frog's still gonna be too floppy to make using the Direction Indicators any easier! :banghead:

Nice idea tho, but there's truly no way that using a frog'll help!



Just Sayin' :cheers:

 

[Isopedella]

View attachment 200155

Nah, there's no way one of them's ^^ gonna work Iso! :lecturef_smilie:

No matter where you stick it up him, the frog's still gonna be too floppy to make using the Direction Indicators any easier! :banghead:

Nice idea tho, but there's truly no way that using a frog'll help!



Just Sayin' :cheers:

Jam him on. Tie the legs aroung the bar. Park it in the sun. Job done once it hardens.

 

[Flier Tuck]

Clarification.

Maybe I didn't make it clear in my initial post. The problem with the switch is that my thumb is immobile, so I have to take my hand off the grip to operate the switch with one of my fingers, which I do not consider safe in traffic and as you all know this is the worst indicator switch ever fitted to a motorcycle. I was hoping to fit an indicator switch to the front of the cluster and operate it with my index finger. But, as posted by BertRemington, I would have to rewire all the lights to avoid upsetting Mr CanBus. Back when I started riding and before indicators was a thing you could buy gauntlet style gloves that had a circular orange coloured light on the back of the hand. When giving hand signals you would touch tip of index finger to tip of thumb and the light would flash, but only to traffic behind of course.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The only thing I can suggest is for you, or an electronics technician, to open up the switch and see what the physical configuration for the switch actually is. Most likely there are two little bubble switches on a printed circuit board. To signal a turn one or the other of the bubbles is pressed when you move the switch right or left. To turn off the signal you push in the button which will then simultaneously depress both PC bubbles. If one is careful and adept you might be able to solder thin wires to the appropriate traces on the PC board. Bring the wires out of the switch housing and connect them to a momentary-on/off/momentary-on 3 way toggle switch. Use a switch your fingers (maybe even your foot) can operate and locate it within reach. This will give you left/right signal operation but not turn off. You might be able to live without the turn off aspect since the signals self cancel after about 30 seconds. Depending on how the PC circuit is configured you might be able to add a second switch to give you the off function.

 

[Bfromla]

Maybe I didn't make it clear in my initial post. The problem with the switch is that my thumb is immobile, so I have to take my hand off the grip to operate the switch with one of my fingers, which I do not consider safe in traffic and as you all know this is the worst indicator switch ever fitted to a motorcycle. I was hoping to fit an indicator switch to the front of the cluster and operate it with my index finger. But, as posted by BertRemington, I would have to rewire all the lights to avoid upsetting Mr CanBus. Back when I started riding and before indicators was a thing you could buy gauntlet style gloves that had a circular orange coloured light on the back of the hand. When giving hand signals you would touch tip of index finger to tip of thumb and the light would flash, but only to traffic behind of course.

opcorn: well according DMV suppose to use hand signals anyway (varies per state laws, blinkers or not) with that description maybe a improvised (3-d printed )brackets that could slip over the switch & do just that. Would of course possibly loose the cancellation feature, but operate &slide L-R hopefully. & there are other riding gear options.
https://youtu.be/nZjVI47p160

 

[Isopedella]

"Maybe I didn't make it clear in my initial post. The problem with the switch is that my thumb is immobile, so I have to take my hand off the grip to operate the switch with one of my fingers, which I do not consider safe in traffic and as you all know this is the worst indicator switch ever fitted to a motorcycle"


Well Dang.

" as you all know this is the worst indicator switch ever fitted to a motorcycle"


What a load of crap.....No I dont accept that at all.


That indicator switch looks almost the same as every other indicator switch on every bike I have ridden. I still have time though I guess. Rode my first bike in the 70's. What bikes have better indicator switches, please enlighten me as I am curious. Maybe you could buy one perhaps.

I have a Buggered Left Thumb, in that I have no movement in the last Joint. Its a stick. I can maneuver it about a bit through about 45 deg.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

What bikes have better indicator switches, please enlighten me as I am curious. Maybe you could buy one perhaps.

The turn signal button on the 2005 Goldwing 1800 I had was a "little bit" easier to operate. Pushing in for cancel was a bit better than on the Spyder, but not much. It's one big advantage over the Spyder, IMO, is the fact the self cancel happens after about 7 seconds, not 30.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

FT, I just thought of something. Taking you at your word about not caring about how the setup looks, here's my suggestion. Take a look at this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8JDQrUquw8. There's a bunch more along the same line on YT. Get a 3 way switch, 4 amber turn signal lamps, a flasher, and wire. Add the turn signal lamps on your mirrors, fenders, or wherever, to function as auxiliary or additional turn signal lamps. Place the switch where you can reach it with a good finger or a foot and voila, you have turn signals you can operate without mucking with, or using, the OEM lights at all.

Another option, there are time delay relays available. With some figuring I could sketch up a circuit that would let you operate add-on signal lamps with just a touch of a button and that would be self cancelling.