Let's Talk Grounding....
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,006
Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
Let's Talk Grounding....
First, Merry Christmas everyone....!
Alright folks, I'm turning to the masses here for some answers on this.
On my 03 Heritage Springer, there handlebars are grounded with a spring that is inside the risers.
I am replacing the stock bars, with some regular width bars, a Carlini Springer Adapter Plate, and new risers.
I know that the other Harley models have a grounding strap that is attached at the bottom of the riser bolt.
I guess my question is, why do the bars need to be grounded? I have found the grounding strap that is stock on other models. Where does the other end of the grounding strap need to be attached?
Thanks for the help folks!
Alright folks, I'm turning to the masses here for some answers on this.
On my 03 Heritage Springer, there handlebars are grounded with a spring that is inside the risers.
I am replacing the stock bars, with some regular width bars, a Carlini Springer Adapter Plate, and new risers.
I know that the other Harley models have a grounding strap that is attached at the bottom of the riser bolt.
I guess my question is, why do the bars need to be grounded? I have found the grounding strap that is stock on other models. Where does the other end of the grounding strap need to be attached?
Thanks for the help folks!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Don't know about the wiring on the newer mostly electronic bikes but older stuff they had to be grounded for for the kill / start switch to work on the handle bars , several of the wiring circuits where completed by grounding on the bars including running lights & turn signals with the old clamp on setups .
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,366
Likes: 406
From: Connecticut
TB knows his ****.
Don't know about the wiring on the newer mostly electronic bikes but older stuff they had to be grounded for for the kill / start switch to work on the handle bars , several of the wiring circuits where completed by grounding on the bars including running lights & turn signals with the old clamp on setups .
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Grounding is one of the biggest overlooked issues by the average person and even mechanics sometimes , loose or bad grounds can give you nightmares chasing an electrical problem that acts like a lot of other things if you haven't had the schooling or dealt with it before . Seen guys tear down half a motor thinking valves were sticking when it was just a dirty intermittent ground contact . The ground wire on the brainbox had corroded so bad up inside the cover it was crumbling but wasn't visible and the bike was one lunging , back firing , not starting but it wasn't consistent .
I'm more than sure the newer bikes with all the black box electronics and sensors are going to very susceptible to problems brought on flaky grounding issues as they age a bit those systems are designed to very close voltage and needed ohm loads to do what they need , bad ground and the ohm resistance ramps up fast . Already seen it in those fancy circuit board lights HD is using now .
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
,,,
See there, I am 62 yrs old and Retired and still learning...
actually never have owned a springer,,, I have never thought about the grounding issue..
Thanks for the info.
NOW if I can only remember this........BAWAHAWAWA..
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 189
From: east texas
Wasn't deemed a proper ground to go thought the bearings & races by the engineers , it could cause bad grounding contact drawing more power than the system was designed for and yes that really does happen it was one of the big problems years ago when guys ripped out the the stock harness and rewired the bike with the hot leg going through those tiny *** switch's shovels used and it burnt them out a lot . Also could damage the bearings themselves by arc pitting .
Grounding is one of the biggest overlooked issues by the average person and even mechanics sometimes , loose or bad grounds can give you nightmares chasing an electrical problem that acts like a lot of other things if you haven't had the schooling or dealt with it before . Seen guys tear down half a motor thinking valves were sticking when it was just a dirty intermittent ground contact . The ground wire on the brainbox had corroded so bad up inside the cover it was crumbling but wasn't visible and the bike was one lunging , back firing , not starting but it wasn't consistent .
I'm more than sure the newer bikes with all the black box electronics and sensors are going to very susceptible to problems brought on flaky grounding issues as they age a bit those systems are designed to very close voltage and needed ohm loads to do what they need , bad ground and the ohm resistance ramps up fast . Already seen it in those fancy circuit board lights HD is using now .
Grounding is one of the biggest overlooked issues by the average person and even mechanics sometimes , loose or bad grounds can give you nightmares chasing an electrical problem that acts like a lot of other things if you haven't had the schooling or dealt with it before . Seen guys tear down half a motor thinking valves were sticking when it was just a dirty intermittent ground contact . The ground wire on the brainbox had corroded so bad up inside the cover it was crumbling but wasn't visible and the bike was one lunging , back firing , not starting but it wasn't consistent .
I'm more than sure the newer bikes with all the black box electronics and sensors are going to very susceptible to problems brought on flaky grounding issues as they age a bit those systems are designed to very close voltage and needed ohm loads to do what they need , bad ground and the ohm resistance ramps up fast . Already seen it in those fancy circuit board lights HD is using now .
a often overlooked problem ...daggum , I hate it when someone else knows what they are talking about !!! ...lol just kidding
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Fish Eye to answer your first question about where the ground strap went , the usual way one end with the big ring goes under the nut or bolt for the risers and the other just attached to the tree's themselves and there's usually a ground wire in the harness itself goes to the same place . When I build a bike I cheat and run all the grounds for the bars with the harness inside the bars to clean it all up and just hook it under the tank or dash .
40 yrs of dealing with old bikes a lot of them British who worshiped Lucas Electrics the lord of darkness you learn things sometimes the hard way . 
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Dec 19, 2011 at 06:57 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
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Likes: 1,240
From: On the Front Range, CO
Thanks guys for all the replies.
I didn't plan to eliminate the grounding, just not sure where and how I want to run it. I imagine I'll do something where I come off the underside of the riser bolt and run it to the inside bolt of the windshield docking hardware.
And TB, you're definitely right that grounding is one of the most overlooked problems. There's a reason for grounding, and without it being done properly, headaches ensue.
I also agree, on these newer bikes with everything being electronically controlled, grounding is going to be even more important.
I didn't plan to eliminate the grounding, just not sure where and how I want to run it. I imagine I'll do something where I come off the underside of the riser bolt and run it to the inside bolt of the windshield docking hardware.
And TB, you're definitely right that grounding is one of the most overlooked problems. There's a reason for grounding, and without it being done properly, headaches ensue.
I also agree, on these newer bikes with everything being electronically controlled, grounding is going to be even more important.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
You can pick up some of that raw braided wire loom used for ground straps or shielding for electronics , a bit of clear shrink tubing and strip the plastic off the crimp connectors and make a clean looking & trick setup that add's to the looks not take away . 
PS it's gotta go to the bike frame itself to be effective what you described is a loop back on itself , it stays on the bars that way and still grounds through the head bearings .
PS it's gotta go to the bike frame itself to be effective what you described is a loop back on itself , it stays on the bars that way and still grounds through the head bearings .
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Dec 20, 2011 at 03:44 PM.