Remove stock blinkers, hook up deadlights

Chilly · Post by **Chilly** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:39 pm

Thinking about buying a bob adapter but only if I can remove the stock blinkers(they look like an afterthought which I guess is correct). I understand this would be a DOT no-no but is it unsafe?

jonlink · Post by **jonlink** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:48 pm

As far as the DOT is concerned, yes. That is why the deadlights aren't blinkers. They aren't legal for safety reasons. I believe your scoot would not be street legal after removing them, as well. However, I doubt you'd get busted for it.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:56 pm

It's not "unsafe", just a little less safe. Genuine adds those blinkers because the built-in ones aren't quite far enough apart to meet DOT regs. It's a rather picky distinction, but if leaving them on and functional makes it a little more safe, I figure that's a good thing.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:29 pm

If I remember correctly, there should be no need for any adapter of any kind to just simply hook up the 'dead lights' as regular blinkers, un-hook the DOT lights and hook up the others. They'll operate like normal blinkers.
There is some debate as to the need and necessity of the DOT blinkers and etc........
There was also, a post where someone had 'difficulty' with their state inspection whereas they didn't pass because the 'dead lights' were dead. Here in Pa. I know with cars, ALL lights on the vehicle whether 'stock' or aftermarket, as long as they're mounted on the vehicle they must be operative. I'm still unsure how that translates to two wheeled vehicles.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:51 pm

KABarash wrote:If I remember correctly, there should be no need for any adapter of any kind to just simply hook up the 'dead lights' as regular blinkers, un-hook the DOT lights and hook up the others. They'll operate like normal blinkers.

But one must use an adapter if you want your deadlights to operate in addition to your DOTs (whether as running lights, blinkers, or both?)
I know there is a kit sold to do this, but I was wanting to research and see if we could do it ourselves to my buddy, rather than spending a couple hundred on the kit.

Sorry, I know this isn't helpful to your question, Chilly... just along the same lines and maybe I can avoid making a separate thread to bug everybody with

I know that here... well... I do agree the DOTs look a little weird and they sure can be inconvenient, but I feel like if I were to try and remove them, I'd get pulled for it sooner rather than later. I can't speak for where you live, though.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:25 pm

LunaP wrote:
KABarash wrote:If I remember correctly, there should be no need for any adapter of any kind to just simply hook up the 'dead lights' as regular blinkers, un-hook the DOT lights and hook up the others. They'll operate like normal blinkers.
But one must use an adapter if you want your deadlights to operate in addition to your DOTs (whether as running lights, blinkers, or both?)
I know there is a kit sold to do this, but I was wanting to research and see if we could do it ourselves to my buddy, rather than spending a couple hundred on the kit.

Sorry, I know this isn't helpful to your question, Chilly... just along the same lines and maybe I can avoid making a separate thread to bug everybody with

I know that here... well... I do agree the DOTs look a little weird and they sure can be inconvenient, but I feel like if I were to try and remove them, I'd get pulled for it sooner rather than later. I can't speak for where you live, though.

Chilly wants to remove the DOT blinkers.

Chilly wrote:Thinking about buying a bob adapter but only if I can remove the stock blinkers(they look like an afterthought which I guess is correct). I understand this would be a DOT no-no but is it unsafe?

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:53 pm

LunaP wrote:But one must use an adapter if you want your deadlights to operate in addition to your DOTs (whether as running lights, blinkers, or both?). I know there is a kit sold to do this, but I was wanting to research and see if we could do it ourselves to my buddy, rather than spending a couple hundred on the kit.

You don't necessarily need the adapter to hook them both up. If you're handy with electrical things, you could probably do something as simple as splicing some of the wires together to get them to work. However, the kit is only $25 (for running lights - goes up from there if you want more functionality) and it makes the installation much more professional by using the proper harness-type plugs. It only requires one vampire tap (IIRC) into an existing wire, so it's fairly non-invasive. I'm very happy with my running light kit. It was worth the $25.

See http://voodooscooterparts.com/Voodoo_Products.html for kit info.

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:04 pm

LunaP wrote:
KABarash wrote:If I remember correctly, there should be no need for any adapter of any kind to just simply hook up the 'dead lights' as regular blinkers, un-hook the DOT lights and hook up the others. They'll operate like normal blinkers.
But one must use an adapter if you want your deadlights to operate in addition to your DOTs (whether as running lights, blinkers, or both?)
I know there is a kit sold to do this, but I was wanting to research and see if we could do it ourselves to my buddy, rather than spending a couple hundred on the kit.

To run both sets of lights as blinkers (as I have it set up) you don't need an adapter. You can splice or join the deadlight wires to the turn signal wires on your own - see this thread for info. It can be done as professionally and cleanly as you want, or you can just shove wires together in connectors, as I did

iMoses · Post by **iMoses** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:08 pm

jmazza wrote:
LunaP wrote:
KABarash wrote:If I remember correctly, there should be no need for any adapter of any kind to just simply hook up the 'dead lights' as regular blinkers, un-hook the DOT lights and hook up the others. They'll operate like normal blinkers.
But one must use an adapter if you want your deadlights to operate in addition to your DOTs (whether as running lights, blinkers, or both?)
I know there is a kit sold to do this, but I was wanting to research and see if we could do it ourselves to my buddy, rather than spending a couple hundred on the kit.
To run both sets of lights as blinkers (as I have it set up) you don't need an adapter. You can splice or join the deadlight wires to the turn signal wires on your own - see this thread for info. It can be done as professionally and cleanly as you want, or you can just shove wires together in connectors, as I did

I did the same, I just spliced them together!

Lil Buddy · Post by **Lil Buddy** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:30 am

Removing the DOT blinkers will alter the flash rate of the remaining or added blinkers. A universal flasher relay will return the flash rate to stock.

Removing the DOT's then plugging those clips into the deadlights does not require an adapter. They will then function as blinkers but nothing else.

Removing the DOT's then installing the BOB Combo Adapter will convert the deadlights to running lights and blinkers.

Again, you will need to install a universal flasher relay to correct the flash rate once the DOT blinkers are removed.

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:35 am

That's pretty cool. Personally, I'm all for all the lighting you can get.

I've seen MCs with LED blinkers mounted on the front of the mirrors. Seems this would be good for a scoot as well since that would place them very high and visible as well a having two less objects hanging off the bike.

OT: Does anybody else hate the touchscreen keyboards o. a tablet as bad as I do?

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:42 am

It can be done without the kit lil buddy sells. Its just his kits make it easy for the non electrically skilled. Everything you need is in there, and its an easy way to go if you aren't into wiring your own thing.

I agree about the flasher relay as well.

And TVB was spot -on about the DOT just needing them to be farther apart. That is why they are added. I used to inspect bikes, and I vould let something like that slide if you "converted"...It was up to the inspector, however I did fail the super small ones some sportbike guys would use. ome I passed, but sometimes it was just TOO SMALL...

Me personally? I like it the way lil buddy has in his pic. with both lit up. why not get added light?

Nice kit BTw! A friend put them on hers and had me check it to see if she got it right

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 5:35 pm

Yeah... I just want more lights. More lights the better! Lokky has been able to add leds to his Stella and had already planned on adding them to the back of my 170 as a late Xmas gift, so he may read over the other thread and give my deadlights a go as well... thank you for the link, Jmazza!

@Southerner: YES. That is specifically why I got my android phone with a qwerty keypad.

markk224 · Post by **markk224** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:38 pm

I have a 2009 125 Buddy. I have purchased the BOB adapter and need to replace the fluorescent bulbs with LEDS (I was told I need to do this because the fluorescent bulbs pull too much power off the battery). Where can I get LED bulbs? Do they have the correct ones at autoparts stores? What model number/part number do I need to get? Thanks for your help.

Alb brajn · Post by **Alb brajn** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:50 pm

In another thread ed85379 posted these, and said the 1156 version works with the buddy.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... -x45-T.htm

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:04 pm

Amen - these are good because they're rated up to 30vDC, which will allow for some overvoltage beyond the 12-14v typical charge current.

There are some out there, including on superbrightleds.com, which don't have as high a maximum voltage rating. Just something to watch out for.

I'm planning on using these as running lights myself, once the temperatures warm up enough to safely remove the front lenses.