Hi, new to these forums. Just picked up my first harley, a 1995 sportster 1200. It had been sitting for a while so it needed quite a bit of things. I had to check out the carb to I removed it and cleaned it out. Now I'm in the process of putting it together and I noticed this wire and can't figure out where it goes. I've searched but can't find the answer, can someone tell me what this 4 pin plug does?

 

 

I’ll check the schematic in my shop manual when I get home tonight. Assuming it's from under the tank, was it plugged in to another connector or just dangling there?

 

It could be used for a smog device on CA bikes. I think this question has come up before. Some kind of solenoid on the A/C I believe.

It is unused on other bikes, so just left to hang.

John

 

I don't remember unplugging that out of anything. I can't find anything that it would connect into either. I noticed it when I was putting the carb back in so pretty sure it might've been sitting behind the carb somewhere. I just want to make sure it's not something important so I don't end up putting everything back together then not being able to start it.

 

As John Harper noted, it is a "California only" feature. Just slap a piece of electrical tape over the end and tuck it back from whence it came

 

Interesting. So normally what would that connect to? I bought the bike stock and it already had that disconnected

 

1994-1996 models had a "butterfly valve solenoid" to which that socket connected. I'm not sure that this feature existed prior to those years and apparently not after, either. (That would seem to suggest that it wasn't a particularly good idea, LOL.)

PS: you've probably already inferred this but the butterfly valve was in the carburetor for California models.

 

As others have suggested, in the case of your bike it probably never was connected to anything. Manufacturers of all vehicles include things on all models that only apply to some, as it is cheaper to make a lot of one thing rather than several versions - in this case of the wiring harness.

I have an International spec 1990 Glide, the wiring for which is not in the service manual. I've been told that not many of my model were made and the harnesses were probably specials. Seems that between 1990 and your bike's model year Harley learned not to make specials!

 

My 1991 (CA model) does not have this feature, I think it was part of the A/C assembly on later bikes.

John