Burning smell from Flasher Tube

[67ChevyRedneck]

Haven't driven the truck much in the past year or so. Mostly because the exhaust leaks were getting pretty bad (not the manifolds or donuts, actual pipe connections) so I kinda parked it except for a cruise here an there.

Got the exhaust fixed and been driving it to work every day.

This morning I had not blinkers. Really bad for the roads I drive on. I have to make a left on a super busy 4 lane road that has NO turn lane, so I'm a sitting duck if the car behind me isn't paying attention. Figured it was the flasher tube. It was. I tested it on the flasher side too and it didn't work.

I bought a new one that had the exact same numbers on it as the old one that was on there the past 18 years I've owned the truck. I put it in and it worked on the way to lunch and most of the way back. I went to make my last turn into work and I smelled a terrifying electric burn smell. I shut it down and the flasher tube was hot as crap (and blinkers not working). I pulled it out.

Is it possible I got the wrong one (even though the numbers matched - 552 12 Volt.) I don't get what caused it to burn up/fail so quick.

I have a brand new AAW harness that's been sitting for about a year in the box... I think she's telling me "it's time?"

[67ChevyRedneck]

The product description doesn't really inspire a lot of confidence...

The 552 from Tridon is a thermal turn signal flasher that operates at 12V and feature 2 terminals. This thermal turn signal flasher flasher uses heat, electricity, to bend spring steel internally which causes the flasher to operate.

Product Features:•Design Life up to 36 hours
•Capable of Handling up to 4 Lamps

Product Application(s):
1967 Chevrolet C10 Pickup •Hazard Warning; Thermal Flasher
•Turn Signal; Thermal Flasher

[cdowns]

When u replaced it did you bother to clean up the contacts so it would work a long time and not burn the truck down by excessive resistance in the circuit?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Of course not

How do you "clean" the female contacts on the fuse block?

[cdowns]

A folded up piece of sandpaper and force it in the slot

[67ChevyRedneck]

Got it! Thanks!

DO NOT buy the cheap $4 made in china flasher (I was on lunch break and it was the only one they had at the store I went to). There was actual burn marks on the bottom.

Just as a "test" I put the new $12 USA made one in without doing anything. Nothing happened after 5 minutes of leaving the signal (stayed cool) on so I drove home. The other one was smoking after only a few minutes. I took it out and cleaned up the contacts using a small screwdriver with sandpaper folded over the end.