Hot or Ground?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 2, 2014 | 05:57 PM

LowriderHarold

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 625

Likes: 102

From: New Albany, Ms.

Hot or Ground?

Good day, gents. I need help in determining where a wire goes. This is for a 1996 FXDL.
I pulled starter & re-worked it & when I put it back in, I forgot where a wire goes. I think it must go on the hot terminal on the starter, because its short & seems to have been bent to fit on it. I have a ground strap on one of the starter mounting bolts, it could reach but I'm not 100% sure & I sure don't want to get it hooked up wrong. The said wire is in a sheath with 2 more, one going to the speedometer sensor, one going to the oil light switch, & this one, which I'm lost. The hot cable, from the battery to the solenoid, has a molded rubber boot, looks like it was made for 2 wires. I looked in the service manual & it doesn't show 2 wires connected to the big lug on the solenoid.
Any help appreciated.

http://s273.photobucket.com/user/low...73385623610485

http://s273.photobucket.com/user/low...39375448882748

Mar 2, 2014 | 06:50 PM

texashillcountry

Dirt don't hurt

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 21,065

Likes: 4,561

From: Haslet Texas

Run a continuity check on a known constant hot wire around the ignition switch.
Then run a continuity check to the ground.

See which one makes noise.

Mar 2, 2014 | 06:54 PM

Schex

Club Member

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 5,803

Likes: 7,829

From: SE Louisiana

I think that wire goes to the main breaker, if so, goes to the (+) lug on starter.

Mar 2, 2014 | 07:49 PM

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,143

Likes: 12,706

From: South Carolina

Deleted double post.

Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 2, 2014 at 07:51 PM.

Mar 2, 2014 | 07:51 PM

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,143

Likes: 12,706

From: South Carolina

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schex3x

I think that wire goes to the main breaker, if so, goes to the (+) lug on starter.

I agree with Sches3x.

If you leave that wire disconnected, and turn on the ignition switch, the bike will have no power.

Mar 3, 2014 | 03:34 PM

LowriderHarold

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 625

Likes: 102

From: New Albany, Ms.

Thank's for the replies.
If I were knowledgeable with a multimeter, I would do as you suggest, thc. But I'm not so when the temps around here come up, (later in the week) so I can get back out in the shop, I'll try what Dan89FLSTC suggested, leave it off & see what happens. Makes sense, cause you have to have power to the rest of the bike, not just the starter.

Ride Safe,
Harold

Mar 3, 2014 | 07:19 PM

HarDlife

Road Warrior

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 1,476

Likes: 5

From: Florida

Harold, I went out and looked at mine (same bike), and I have 3 wires coming out of a sheath one goes to the oil switch, one goes to the neutral switch, and the 3rd (the one your asking about) goes to the stud on the starter. Sounds like the others have you covered, just thought I would confirm it for you.