Wiring Harness Maddness!!!

[Guest ColdSteel]

Hey everyone,

I just bought an 83 venture royale and I was told the main wiring harness was bad when I bought it. Finally today I got around to stripping down this beast and getting to the wires only to find that I am in way over my head! there are more wires on this thing than my truck! On top of that I cannot nearly call myself a mechanic of an electrician. I need help, and I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get some help or if there was another member somewhere that could help me fix the wiring! I am willing to pay! please send help! thanks guys.

 

-Charles.

[Venturous Randy]

The best thing to do is to get a good manual. It has a good wiring schematic that gives all the wire colors. Also, if yours is stock, you will want to replace the fuse box with the plug-in type fuse holder.

The wiring is nothing more than a bunch of separate systems and if you are only looking at one system, it is usually not that complicated.

RandyA

[GeorgeS]

First, thing, is if you have not torn it apart yet.

 

What does NOT Work, of the electrical end user components. ???

 

If nothing else, hook up any good battery to the battery terminals, and operate all the electrical components. Find out What Don't Work, first.

 

Let me know what you find.

 

Also, Check the Fuse Holder Clips, If the fuse panel has never been replaced, it might be bad.

 

Also, check the Neg Bat terminal where it connects to the RT FWD corner of the engine, remove bolt, clean off the Corrision.

 

Also, pull Red cable from starter motor, check the end Stud for Corrosion. If corroded, heat with Propane torch, and dip in Rosin, Flux, and resolder.

All cables.

 

Remove, and check with an OHM METER, ALL Fuses!!

((( Just cause they look good, don't mean they are good )))

 

There is a main Ground Stud, on frame left of battery not easy to find. Make sure this ground is clean, and tight. Lots of items get ground return from this point.

 

Pull Apart " ALL " " REPEAT " " ALL " Electrical connectors, and give them a bath with CRC Brand

2-26, Electrical Contact Cleaner. ( lots of plugs, behind head light ) Also All Bulb Sockets.

 

Also, give All the handle bar switches a Bath with 2-26. (( And the Ignition Switch ))

 

NOW, Reassess the Electrical system, Did you fix anything ?? What does NOT WORK ??? after the cleaning.

 

Anyplace you see, a Black wire connected, to Ground, remove it and Clean the connection.

[bongobobny]

My thoughts exactly! Sure, there are a bunch of wires and connectors, but don't let it intimidate you. They are just stupid old wires, and don't have any "smarts." What needs to happen is to address each electrical problem by itself, and describe it as accurately as possible here. There are a lot of skilled people here who can offer you help and point you in the right direction.

 

Sooo, first question, does the bike start and run???

[IH Truck Guy]

Great idea's.If this bike was on fire,then it will be a little harder to check out.But if all the wiring is intact,take it a group at a time.

For what it's worth 93.773% of all electrical problems can be traced to BAD grounds...:2cents:

[Black Owl]

What part of MN are you in?

 

Several folks here familiar with the 1st Gen that could probably give you some help if we knew where you where......

 

 

[Gearhead]

"There is a main Ground Stud, on frame left of battery not easy to find. Make sure this ground is clean, and tight. Lots of items get ground return from this point. "

 

 

 

Hey George, can I access this ground stud without removing a bunch of stuff? How do I get to it? And where does the battery ground to the frame? I only see the fat cable to the engine...

 

Jeremy

[Condor]

"There is a main Ground Stud, on frame left of battery not easy to find. Make sure this ground is clean, and tight. Lots of items get ground return from this point. "

 

 

 

Hey George, can I access this ground stud without removing a bunch of stuff? How do I get to it? And where does the battery ground to the frame? I only see the fat cable to the engine...

 

Jeremy

 

Wow, I thought someone would have piped in with the answer by now??? Anyway the battery ground wire connects directly to a bolt in the waterpump area just inside the plastic 'L' coolant connector.

[Gearhead]

Condor,

 

Thanks, I saw that one. But with the engine being rubber mounted, isn't there a ground cable to the frame as well? And I'd really like more detail on the location and accessibility of the ground stud mentioned above.

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Condor]

Condor,

 

Thanks, I saw that one. But with the engine being rubber mounted, isn't there a ground cable to the frame as well? And I'd really like more detail on the location and accessibility of the ground stud mentioned above.

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

Nope, that one goes directly to the battery and serves as the motor ground, as the bolt screws into the motor block. Individual accessories run seperate grounds off the negative side of the fuse block. While you're messing around with it take it off and clean up the contact surfaces.