Got my '86 883 out for a ride tonight, was cruising along fine. About 50mph, lights go out, bike shuts down, and there I sit on the side of the road...great. Wife brought my basic tools out, and I start looking. Eventually find (with the help of another rider who stopped) there is something wrong with my negative battery cable. The connection to the battery is tight, so there must be a prOblem between the battery and starter?? Wiggle the wire and I had lights, but it was very sensitive, the slightest movement and power was out again. I repeatedly tried starting it, it would run rough, backfire, and the last time I tried starting it there was a horrible clunk sound from within the engine. I haven't torn into it yet, but am very nervous about that clunk sound and don't understand why the negative cable gave me issues seemingly out of no where. Has anyone had this prOblem???

 

I had an issue with my cable, every once in a while it would just shutoff, ended up being a corroded cable. Made a new one fairly easy (and cheap) just get some quality cable, some good brass fittings and some shrink wrap.

i would get the wires figured out and then see if there is an engine problem

 

AGREED, HDs are supposed to make weird noises, if they don't, they ain't runnin.

 

86-yr bike's probably running original cables...time for a swap...I'd do both (pos & neg).

 

I agree with the others. Replace both battery cables and then see if there's a motor issue. Yes, I've had my negative battery cable break. The solder in the frame connection corroded and came apart allowing intermittent electrical flow. Replace negative wire and it's been fine since.

 

Change simple stuff first like points, cables, even battery if it is giving a lower charge. If you start digging around on an older bike, you might find things that are wrong that are not necessarily the root of your problem. Best of luck. Start simple then move to complex.