Gauge blinker question Options

[rob gannon]

Hi, I have a 1970, the gauges are in terrible condition. I have a 1974 set of gauges that are much nicer I am going to replace them with. The early set has individual left and right blinker bulbs located on the tach gauge. The later tach gauge has one bulb shared by both sides. My question is: is it ok to jumper the wires from the left and right blinker to the single bulb in the newer gauge? I just don't want to do any damage.
Thanks, rob

[rob gannon]

As far as using newer gauges - I was trying to use stuff on hand and be cheap. However I do like the look of the older gauges better. This leads to a part two question. With my older two bulb setup sometimes when I would turn on either left or right blinker, sometimes both sides would blink. Sometimes the correct side would blink and after a few seconds then both sides would start blinking- only on the dash, on the outside lights it was correct. Is that a ground issue? I've checked all the grounds I can find. Is there one I may be missing?

[Spoke]

As far as using newer gauges - I was trying to use stuff on hand and be cheap. However I do like the look of the older gauges better. This leads to a part two question. With my older two bulb setup sometimes when I would turn on either left or right blinker, sometimes both sides would blink. Sometimes the correct side would blink and after a few seconds then both sides would start blinking- only on the dash, on the outside lights it was correct. Is that a ground issue? I've checked all the grounds I can find. Is there one I may be missing?

Not a ground issue. The blinker unit is bad. Notice the in the 70-73 circuit the common connection of the indicator lamps that go to the 'K' terminal of the flasher relay. This part of the relay is not working correctly.

For example, if you disconnect this common wire between the indicators, both indicators will light at the same time with a lower intensity since 2 lights in series get 1/2 the battery voltage. This is what you are seeing.

2 solutions:
1) Buy a new flasher.
2) Remove the common wire from the flasher to the lamps. Then tie the common connection of the lamps to ground (ground lug is on the back of the tach case). Then swap the 2 lamps as they will flash L for R and R for L. Notice in the 70-73 circuit that the R indicator is connected to the L turnsignal bulbs and L indicator to the R turnsignal bulbs.