Turn signal lights flickering randomly?

[Dpm708]

The scene: My BX25 in my backyard. Just had a heavy rainstorm. Kept outside,usually covered but not today. I'm 2 hours away camping. My son calls me and tells of the turn signals randomly flickering once in awhile. Asked him to check turn,flasher,headlight switches but nothing seems amiss. No apparent signs of vandalism or attempted theft. Told him to disconnect battery and I'll just check when I return. Not much I can do 120 miles away. Anyone ever heard of maybe heavy rain causing issues with the turn,flasher,headlight switchs? Dealer keeeps these things outside year round in my area. Anyone have any guesses? Thanks in advance.

 

[boggen]

is turn singles on? and flickers while it is on (besides normal blinking)? or all lights are off and turn single light flickers?

is he confusing having "flashers on" and turn single on at same time?

is the light cover off and looking at bulb, and thinking sun rays on bulb is causing the flickering vs actual light turning on?

is it simply a bad bulb? and element just barely hanging in there. and flickering from some vibrations when turn single is on?

is he talking about actual lights themselves, or a dash board light?

it could be a bad turn single switch, it could be just a loose wire at the light, or loose wire at the switch, or loose wire harness connection. there is not much to wiring on a tractor, some relays, some fuses, and then enough wires for all lights and sensors and switches. but hard part is sorting through it. not sure if kubuta online parts catalog would show detail of what was what for harness connections. a shop manual i would think for sure show you all the connections and what pin or color wire was what.

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sorry if some of the comments / Q's seem dumb. but been there done that. in my own bozo moments.

 

[aczlan]

Is it one side flashing, or both in sync? If it is both in sync, theck the 4way flasher switch.

Aaron Z

 

[LBrown59]

The scene: My BX25 in my backyard. Just had a heavy rainstorm. Kept outside,usually covered but not today. I'm 2 hours away camping. My son calls me and tells of the turn signals randomly flickering once in awhile. Asked him to check turn,flasher,headlight switches but nothing seems amiss. No apparent signs of vandalism or attempted theft. Told him to disconnect battery and I'll just check when I return. Not much I can do 120 miles away. Anyone ever heard of maybe heavy rain causing issues with the turn,flasher,headlight switchs? Dealer keeeps these things outside year round in my area. Anyone have any guesses? Thanks in advance .

=aczlan
Is it one side flashing, or both in sync? If it is both in sync, theck the 4way flasher switch.
Aaron Z

The switchs are not water proof so leaving the tractor set out in the rain will cause these problems .
Even hosing off the dash / switches will cause the problem.

Unplug one of the wires on the switch a day or longer and keep it out of the rain .
It should then work ok when you plug the wire back on if you truly got it dried out.

 

[gwdixon]

So common that it is pathetic. Search on TBN to find many posts on the subject.

Kubota should at least have a decent replacement that can be purchased.

Anyway, I ended up just unplugging mine and leaving it that way.

 

[Dpm708]

Late update..... When I returned, my son described the flashing as like random "morse code" flickering on both turn signals simultaneously. He disconnected battery as I had asked. I plugged back in but could not see/duplicate any problems. Tractor started up fine and all lights/dash indicators seemed OK too. Maybe it was switch getting wet, don't know. Will keep covered for now...

 

[Dpm708]

Late update..... When I returned, my son described the flashing as like random "morse code" flickering on both turn signals simultaneously. He disconnected battery as I had asked. I plugged back in but could not see/duplicate any problems. Tractor started up fine and all lights/dash indicators seemed OK too. Maybe it was switch getting wet, don't know. Will keep covered for now...

Revisited update...... Nov 4, 2012... Well I would agree that switch is poorly designed and obviously not waterproof. Tractor left uncovered and went to use it. Lights acting funny. Did some puttering..... Switch comes out of dash by pressing two clasps under dash. Short harness has disconnect plug. I should have taken some pix but was afterthought. Small hole in center under switch drips water from warning flasher shaft. Two solder nubs next to hole are for 4-way circuit. Nubs coated with greenish blue crust, like you would see on a bad water pipe solder job.... My guess is electrolysis/corrosion from water contact. All other connections seem fine. Sprayed out with burnisher and WD 40. Seems Kubota should have a better idea for water proofing as I'm sure their products get used in all kinds of weather..... So for now I have solved the flickering light mystery and will make a rubber flap (piece of old inner tube) to flip over entire switch assembly...

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

A BX25 has the same switches as a BX2350, right? Mine sits out year round without an issue. The BX22 and therefore the BX24 did have switches that leaked, but I don't know if the 25 suffers the same fate. Mine hasn't for almost five years. At least the 22/24 used standard form factor switches, so you could easily replace them with marine grade switches.