2012 Billet Style Front Turn Signal Replacement Bulb

[rcarpenter5748]

I could use some help finding the correct size bulb for the front turn signals on my 2012 Tri Glide. I would like to find a set of LED bulbs that will fit. Every place I research claims that a standard 1157 bulb is the replacement. On my bike the bulb goes in but will not turn and lock into place. I have tried several different led bulbs and even a standard 1157 bulb but have had no luck as of yet.

I have replaced all the other lights with led bulbs and love them. All of them have worked so far without any resistors or equalizers. The turn signals are the only thing left. Surely I can't be the only one with this problem. Even my search on here has said to use standard 1157 bulbs.

My turn signals are stock from the factory so I just don't know.

Thanks for any help I can get.

 

[MDO]

On a 1157 bulb, the 2 little pins on them are offset slightly, if you push the bulb in, turn & it does not lock in, rotate it 180 degrees. At that point in time, you will feel kinda silly, I know I did the 1st time.

You can also Google Sylvania Zevo LED bulbs, I'm pretty sure they sell a amber 1157 LED

Here is something I posted on the Freewheeler thread. These are sold in every HD dealer I have ever been in.

Note: You may need to add an equalizer if you have not already.

Custom Dynamics LED front turn signals

This is another upgrade I made to my 2017 Freewheeler.

At 1st. I just wanted to change over to LED's, but after seeing these in person, I had to have them. They are bright & really stand out & I've gotten several positive comments & lots of questions. These are the inserts that have white outer lights for running liguts & amber inner lights for blinkers.

They are can bus compatible with 2013 & newer Harleys & have a lifetime warranty. They sell for $89.99 most everywhere. My local HD dealer had them for that price & gives a 10% Vet's discount, so I gave him the business & he installed them for free.

A couple items of note. You have to change the amber front turn signal lens to clear or smoke.

Also, pulling the old bulbs generates an error code. You clear it once & the issue is resolved. Here is a link to the dealer's homepage:

https://www.customdynamics.com/front...vidson?cat=518

Here is a link to a video (on the right) showing them in operation:

https://www.customdynamics.com/front...#productVideos​

​

 

[rcarpenter5748]

On a 1157 bulb, the 2 little pins on them are offset slightly, if you push the bulb in, turn & it does not lock in, rotate it 180 degrees. At that point in time, you will feel kinda silly, I know I did the 1st time.

You can also Google Sylvania Zevo LED bulbs, I'm pretty sure they sell a amber 1157 LED

Here is something I posted on the Freewheeler thread. These are sold in every HD dealer I have ever been in.

Note: You may need to add an equalizer if you have not already.

Custom Dynamics LED front turn signals

This is another upgrade I made to my 2017 Freewheeler.

At 1st. I just wanted to change over to LED's, but after seeing these in person, I had to have them. They are bright & really stand out & I've gotten several positive comments & lots of questions. These are the inserts that have white outer lights for running liguts & amber inner lights for blinkers.

They are can bus compatible with 2013 & newer Harleys & have a lifetime warranty. They sell for $89.99 most everywhere. My local HD dealer had them for that price & gives a 10% Vet's discount, so I gave him the business & he installed them for free.

A couple items of note. You have to change the amber front turn signal lens to clear or smoke.

Also, pulling the old bulbs generates an error code. You clear it once & the issue is resolved. Here is a link to the dealer's homepage:

https://www.customdynamics.com/front...vidson?cat=518

Here is a link to a video (on the right) showing them in operation:

https://www.customdynamics.com/front...#productVideos​

​

I appreciate the quick response. As far as I know the 1157 will only fit in one way. The tabs are offset and won't allow them to fit any other way. I know what you mean though because I had a heck of a time putting in my rear led's. Didn't know about the polarity and didn't think they worked at first. Those were actually 3157

with the flat insert.

As far as the CD inserts they are awesome but I have a 2012 and would need to purchase the CD equalizer for $80 and that just makes it to costly for 2 turn signals. Guess I'm just stubborn. All my other led bulbs worked without an equalizer or resistor.

I know the CD inserts require the equalizer on my bike because I purchased them for the $89 and they wanted another $80 for the equalizer. I just wouldn't do it until I knew there was no other choice.

That brings me back to my question. Am I the only one that can't get a 1157 bulb to fit in a billet style front turn signal and what is the correct bulb. I also talked to the mech at my local HD dealer and he said he had the same problem with the 1157 bulb on his personal bike. He said he just orders stock 198 bulbs.

Thanks though and Yes, CD inserts look great and you can't beat the lifetime warranty.

 

[MDO]

My Freewheeler lights are the same as your Tri-Glide.

As far as a load equalizing resister, if you've been to the college of electrical knowledge, they are very easy to put in & you can get 1 for $5

What about the Sylvania Zevo LED's I mention in my post?

I got mine at an auto parts store, but they sell them at Walmart

 

[rcarpenter5748]

What about the Sylvania Zevo LED's I mention in my post?

I gat mine at an auto parts store, but they sell them at Walmart

I can try them but I have already tried 2 different 1157 led's from superbright lights, 2 different 1157 led's from syneticusa and a standard 1157. All of them fit into the socket and when pushed in would make contact but refused to turn and lock in. It seems like if they would push in and make contact then they would be able to turn and lock in.

The led panel I tried did fit into the opening and fit snug but I really wasn't able to twist it because all I could really twist on were the cables and I didn't want to twist to hard on them.

Oh, I got what you meant about turning the bulb 180 and trying. Yip, done that too. Wouldn't be my first brain fart.

 

[MDO]

Are you saying you have no working bulbs in both front blinkers & you can not get any bulb to fit in either one?

 

[rhino 2]

I can try them but I have already tried 2 different 1157 led's from superbright lights, 2 different 1157 led's from syneticusa and a standard 1157. All of them fit into the socket and when pushed in would make contact but refused to turn and lock in. It seems like if they would push in and make contact then they would be able to turn and lock in.

The led panel I tried did fit into the opening and fit snug but I really wasn't able to twist it because all I could really twist on were the cables and I didn't want to twist to hard on them.

Oh, I got what you meant about turning the bulb 180 and trying. Yip, done that too. Wouldn't be my first brain fart.

Are you sure the bulbs aren't a ''single'' filament 1156...:Shrug:

I have in my hand right now both 1157/2057 And the single filament 1156...The 1157/2057 have the locking pins off set to each other while the 1156 have the locking pins parallel to each other...

 

[Gorilla]

Sometimes the replacement bulbs just bottom out their base in the socket before it is in deep enough to engage the tabs. I also have found this on several I have tried. The only solution is to keep trying different makes till you find one that will go deep enough to turn.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Sometimes the replacement bulbs just bottom out their base in the socket before it is in deep enough to engage the tabs. I also have found this on several I have tried. The only solution is to keep trying different makes till you find one that will go deep enough to turn.

I have seen odd bulbs many times

I have even taken the bulbs and scratched the contacts on the side walk

Some times it makes em fit better JMO