G'day Fellas.
I can do most mechanical things but when it comes to electrickery I'm at a loss!
1988 FXST. Doing a primary rebuild I've put all the wires back on where they came off (I think). Now with the + connected to the battery I go to connect the - and get sparks!!! Ignition off, all switches off.
Thinking it's the solenoid. Did a few tests as follows.
Battery not connected. Continuity between battery pole and s/motor pole, battery pole and solenoid body, s/motor pole and solenoid body, battery pole and signal pole, s/motor pole and signal pole, solenoid body and all three poles to engine!
Now using a test battery. + to s/motor pole - to signal pole solenoid throws out, + to battery pole - to signal pole solenoid throws out, + to signal pole - to engine = sparks, - to signal pole + to engine solenoid throws out. + to s/motor pole - to engine s/motor spins.
F'ed if I know! I don't want to put any more bits (rear guard rear pipe etc) on till this is sorted.
Cheers.
Musky

 

Not following your steps, but let me try and help. Highly doubt your solenoid electrically failed from working on the primary.

1. Your solenoid has either 3 or 4 connections. Big lug to battery +, 2nd big lug to starter. Small control wire to control circuit +, some have a 2nd control wire which is ground.
1. All wiring disconnected from solenoid, using an ohm meter go between 2 big lug's, should read open (infinity). Next, still with ohm's go between each big lug to case of solenoid, should be open (infinity). Control circuit, if 2 small studs, do the same as above, should be open, if 1 stud there should be low resitance to case.

 

On solenoid... Long stud to +12v...Short stud to Starter.. Little screw stud fires the solenoid, with 12v from starter Relay..
Should we assume you do Not have access to a Manual??

 

G'day Fellas, thanks for your replies.
Yes I have a manual on the "nerdbox" and a A3 size colour wiring diagram on the bench.
The solenoid has two large poles (one long at top, one short at bottom) and one small signal pole. Wired up as per diagram, large short to battery, large long to s/motor. small pole to relay.
I only did a continuity test as above. I'll try the ohm test and get back to you.
Yes it's strange as the only modification to standard is I moved the circuit breaker and relay from the inner guard to the battery compartment for easier access. I'm sure I didn't pinch any wires.
Cheers

 

I'm back. Problem solved!
Racepres got me thinking long stud to battery. I had it the other way round. The wiring diagram from Prospero's Garage


shows long stud on the bottom but the manual has an arrow to the top long stud. So the old saying applies "if all else fails read the instructions".
Sorry for wasting your time.
Now I can finish putting her together and test that I've fixed the primary hemorrhage.
Cheers

 

The diagram shows the opposite of what you wrote:

Long stud to battery.

Short stud to starter motor.

 

G'day Dan.
Yes see my last post above.
Cheers