Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[longlast]

Any one have a trick to stop condensation from happening on the turn signals. It's only happening on the front turn signals the back are fine. I have removed the lenses and silicone around the edges, but as in the pic,... That didn't work,....Any suggestions.

[Fired00d]

If I remember correctly there should be a cutout in the lense to allow moisture to escape (I usually try to have that cutout facing down to allow moisture to drip out). The moisture is probably coming thru the back where the wires come into the lights. By sealing the lenses you have defeated the purpose of that cutout allowing moisture to escape. You might try sealing the back of the lights where the wires go in to power the lights. I would also remove the silicone around the lenses so if any (what little) moisture gets in can escape.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Designflaw]

If I remember correctly there should be a cutout in the lense to allow moisture to escape (I usually try to have that cutout facing down to allow moisture to drip out). The moisture is probably coming thru the back where the wires come into the lights. By sealing the lenses you have defeated the purpose of that cutout allowing moisture to escape. You might try sealing the back of the lights where the wires go in to power the lights. I would also remove the silicone around the lenses so if any (what little) moisture gets in can escape.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

What he said

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[ultrarider123]

If I remember correctly there should be a cutout in the lense to allow moisture to escape (I usually try to have that cutout facing down to allow moisture to drip out). The moisture is probably coming thru the back where the wires come into the lights. By sealing the lenses you have defeated the purpose of that cutout allowing moisture to escape. You might try sealing the back of the lights where the wires go in to power the lights. I would also remove the silicone around the lenses so if any (what little) moisture gets in can escape.

The d00d is correct, Pete.  It is not a great seal between the cover and light assembly.  Water will enter hence the cut out mentioned in his explanation.  Remove your silicone from the lens and check the rubber gasket where the power wires enter the light assembly.  I get this from time to time when washing on both the front and rear turn lights.

Also, make sure your lights have some electrical grease between the bulb and contacts.  This helps cut down on the corrosion that will occur due to the moisture issues.

Ain't it fun owning a Harley....

[longlast]

If I remember correctly there should be a cutout in the lense to allow moisture to escape (I usually try to have that cutout facing down to allow moisture to drip out). The moisture is probably coming thru the back where the wires come into the lights. By sealing the lenses you have defeated the purpose of that cutout allowing moisture to escape. You might try sealing the back of the lights where the wires go in to power the lights. I would also remove the silicone around the lenses so if any (what little) moisture gets in can escape.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

That's right there is a cutout on the lenses I made sure that I didn't seal that up. I don't get it it why there's so much condensation build up

The d00d is correct, Pete.  It is not a great seal between the cover and light assembly.  Water will enter hence the cut out mentioned in his explanation.  Remove your silicone from the lens and check the rubber gasket where the power wires enter the light assembly.  I get this from time to time when washing on both the front and rear turn lights.

Also, make sure your lights have some electrical grease between the bulb and contacts.  This helps cut down on the corrosion that will occur due to the moisture issues.

Ain't it fun owning a Harley....

It's a strange thing Howard they've been watering up all the time. They were clear when I went for a ride today,.. sunny dry day but a little cool when I got back that's what they looked like in the pics.
I'll pull them off again and get rid of the silicone and put a little/little hole in the cutout, maybe that will work.
The wiring runs internally inclosed in mounting arm for the side running lights that have no issue. Greased the bulbs way back when.
The only thing I can think of is for me to dois get a can of ACF 50 (think that's what it's called) to displace the moisture

[Fired00d]

.....
The wiring runs internally inclosed in mounting arm for the side running lights that have no issue. Greased the bulbs way back when.
The only thing I can think of is for me to dois get a can of ACF 50 (think that's what it's called) to displace the moisture

Can you get a picture of how the wires run into those lights? If they are like the ones on my bike it was a common problem for water (moisture) to enter in the rear and the remedy back then was to get some clear RV/Boat silicone and put around the wires to prevent water (moisture) from entering. The big issue we had w/ours was it would corrode/rust out the light assembly internally and require them to be replaced.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[coloradotom]

My old bike used to do this and I just drilled a hole in the bottom, but where you live is waaaay more humid than where I do so I don't know if that would work.

[iski]

All good suggestions - seal wire entry point, position lens hole at bottom - all much better than mine.  I think your blinker fluid needs to be replaced. 

[longlast]

Can you get a picture of how the wires run into those lights? If they are like the ones on my bike it was a common problem for water (moisture) to enter in the rear and the remedy back then was to get some clear RV/Boat silicone and put around the wires to prevent water (moisture) from entering. The big issue we had w/ours was it would corrode/rust out the light assembly internally and require them to be replaced.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

There's no visible wires all are consealed. If you in large this pic it shows the mounting. It's strange that it's on both fronts .  Older pic doing a wash. Like I said it's not from rain or washing it's a biuld up of condensation, the lenses were clear when I went out this morning and back 2hrs later there full of water drops. Dry sunny day but cool.

[longlast]

I know heat from the bulbs is causing the condensation on the lenses,...But I don't know way? Or how the stop it.

I ordered up some ACF50 today I'll give that a shot if I don't sort it by next mid week.

[grc]

There's no visible wires all are consealed. If you in large this pic it shows the mounting. It's strange that it's on both fronts .  Older pic doing a wash. Like I said it's not from rain or washing it's a biuld up of condensation, the lenses were clear when I went out this morning and back 2hrs later there full of water drops. Dry sunny day but cool.

The wires are only partially hidden.  I modified your photo and added an arrow showing where the wires enter the bracket.  That is where you need to add a sealant to keep the water from following the wire harness into the bracket, the standoff for the light, and the actual light.  As d00d mentioned, water runs down this wire and enters the back side of the light reflector.  Over time it corrodes the connections, the reflector, the housing, and the bulb, causing the lights to fail.  You may want to disassemble yours and fix any corrosion proactively, rather than wait for them to fail.  Btw, you have the same lights and brackets that are on d00d's bike and mine.  Harley has used those same parts for many years.

Seal the bracket where the wires enter, enlarge the drain hole/slot in the lens and mount it facing down.  I've been using clear silicone sealer on just the top half of the lens to housing, leaving the bottom half and the drain hole unsealed.  It's been working fine for many years, but it still won't eliminate all fogging of the lens.  The heat of the bulb will drive off moisture while riding, but once the bike is shut down and the light cools some outside air will be drawn in.  If that air is humid, and the temperature drops, condensation will occur.  The same thing happens on automotive lights.

Jerry

[Fired00d]

There's no visible wires all are consealed. If you in large this pic it shows the mounting. It's strange that it's on both fronts .  Older pic doing a wash. Like I said it's not from rain or washing it's a biuld up of condensation, the lenses were clear when I went out this morning and back 2hrs later there full of water drops. Dry sunny day but cool.

Look at what I have circled... this appears to be what I have on mine... the black wire is the power supply for those lights that go in the back of that assembly. That's where the water/moisture gets in and what many of us have sealed w/silicone. The reason you don't get/see moisture in the spots is because it runs down into the turn signals (both sides).

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Fired00d]

 ... Should have read all the posts in the thread before I replied... What Jerry said.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[longlast]

Top notch fellas. I'll dig into it today, and here I was worrying about retirement as to what I'm going to do with myself when I'm not riding .  I'll post the outcome

[CVODON]

Current bike has no condensation, but the last three would get so much condensate they looked like car windows in high school. I started removing the lens and blowing them dry everytime I washed it. Just takes a quarter and I already had the Metro out to blow bike partially dry.
No problems after that.