Extra wiring
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1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Kingsville
Extra wiring
I bought a used 96' 1200. Previous owner cut it up a lot! I want to clean it up some, especially the wiring. There are a lot of wires going everywhere under the seat and under the neck. Some are way too long and doubled back on themselves. Any suggestions as to where I should start? I am kinda new to working on bikes but I really want to learn. I have tried to find someone local for guidance but have had no luck. Thanks in advance for any feedback you can offer.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
The best way (for me anyway) is to draw up a schematic with notes on wire size and insulation color.
Then, if you plan on relocating any parts that will affect the length of any of the wires, whether it is an electrical part or not, get that done.
Then figure out what wires you can loom together in heat shrink or whatever you want to use and how you are going to support the loom (cable ties, etc.).
Then, if you plan on relocating any parts that will affect the length of any of the wires, whether it is an electrical part or not, get that done.
Then figure out what wires you can loom together in heat shrink or whatever you want to use and how you are going to support the loom (cable ties, etc.).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,436
Likes: 6,372
From: Honah Lee
If it all works, I would leave it alone. Even an unaltered Harley wiring can look a little messy. Good chance if someone was sloppy with the wiring, it probably won't work long. However, I would start my solder and shrink wrap practice on the bench. You can check out a wiring 101 from the library. Some people just use claimed thick shrink wrap but I always layer two tight wraps of electric tape on, then the shrink wrap and then I pack a little black rtv in the shrink wrap ends. Gives it the insulation as thick as wiring and seals out the elements. Good luck. You read a lot of horror stories on here on internal wire apes and stuff. A crossed or shorted wire can do a lot of damage way out of sight of where you are working.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 12, 2013 at 10:01 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
tape or cap any wires that just end an don't go to anything. The only "extra wires" i can think of are turn signals. If you have those all the wires should be in use. Get some zip ties an tuck an neaten the wires. If it's really hacked up you can get a whole harness off a donor bike an redo it over the winter.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Kingston, Ontario
If you want to save yourself a lot of trouble in the future redo the wiring. I use these kit or something sim. on all my bikes they will run LEDs and a variety of brake/run combos. And yes when you chop a sporty there are a pile of unused and extra long wires you will still have the wires in the kit but they are way cleaner and you will know where to go if you have a problem you can also run them in the frame and really clean things up while your at it. If have bought a lot of used xls cheep because someone has "rewired" them. Electrical gremlins will haunt you for the lifetime of your ride and if it has been chopper odds are you will have your share down the road.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/381-001
Cheers
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/381-001
Cheers
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