LED Turn Signal Installation

[pappy35]

Finally got around to installing LED turn signal bulbs. I sourced these from a vendor in China and, as advertised, they are plug and play, no resistor needed, no hyper-flashing, and no CANBUS errors. They are very bright and seem to work in the reflector housing just as well as the OEM incandescent bulbs did.

Note: check your bulb mounts before ordering. On my 2013 RT the fronts and rears are not 180 degrees apart, they are offset (whatever that's called I don't recall). The rear mounts are metal and the bulbs went right in despite this. The fronts though are plastic and they didn't just pop in like the rears did. I found it was possible to insert them in the front plugs and they will twist and lock in place and work (I channeled my inner gorilla-mechanic and used a pair of pliers) but I did have a moment of panic. If you buy these, buyer beware. They may make one that has the correct offset tabs and this link is NOT to one of those.

Rear OEM vs. LED

Rear Both Installed

Front Both Installed

No CANBUS Errors

 

[RadioFlyer]

There is a difference in the bayonet depending on whether the bulbs are amber or white. If the bulb you get doesn't line up properly it is likely because of this.

The LED in your Ebay link is amber. It has the BAU15S base. The angle between the bayonet lugs is NOT 180 degrees on this base.

The white bulb has a BA15S base. The angle between the bayonet lugs is 180 degrees for this bulb.

When ordering replacement bulbs take note of whether your originals are amber or white and order accordingly for ease of fitment. It is possible to force one into the other but less than ideal.

 

[pappy35]

I knew it was something like that, thanks for adding your knowledge to the hive-mind but these bulbs are amber and have 180 bayonets. I guess this is one of the joys of buying sight-unseen from China. Bottom line though is that they popped right into the rear housings no sweat and worked in the fronts with just a little persuasion. I kept the original bulbs just in case longevity isn't as advertised but the guy that originally posted the link to these bulbs on the FaceBook group has had them longer and hasn't reported any problems so I'm pretty satisfied.

 

[RadioFlyer]

This guy explains all.
https://youtu.be/cyewVYsNHP4

 

[pappy35]

This guy explains all.
https://youtu.be/cyewVYsNHP4

BAU15S is what it should be but is not what they shipped me. So, other than confirming that it is possible to installed LED bulbs in the turn signal housings, that vendor screwed up somehow. I've removed the link to avoid misleading others. Thanks for the video, that was very helpful.

PS - when out and rode 220 miles today and they're still working!