Starter Wiring Questions

teburns662 · Nov 5th, 2009, 08:21 PM

I could really use some help here if anyone out there has some info. I'm building a custom chopper that is softail based on mostly everything. I picked up a used 1987 Softail transmission with primary, starter and all to install and was using a Wires Plus seat post wiring harness which really made most wiring pretty easy. I am now trying to wire the starter motor and solenoid referencing a Clymer manual for softails but it isnt specific enough as to what wires connect where on the solenoid/starter setup. Anybody have any ideas where I can find some reference material to help me set this up correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated !

R. Lewis · Nov 5th, 2009, 08:26 PM

was there anything in the self-help section here?

teburns662 · Nov 5th, 2009, 08:59 PM

I didnt see anything specific to starter/solenoid wiring. I need something like a diagram showing the poles for solenoid and starter motor/ battery connections.

glider · Nov 5th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Starter Relay Wiring - Harley Davidson Community

teburns662 · Nov 6th, 2009, 07:56 AM

Ok ...without bursting a hernia laughing at my drawing I have a question if anyone knows and can figure out my drawing. I tried to copy what the clymer manual shows for wiring the solenoid and starter motor. It only specifies a few things and jsut says in the guide to note the wires for reassembly. Which since I am doing a build does me no good. Im building a project using a 1987 Softail primary, transmission, and accessories ( OEM Starter and Solenoid ).

The manual specifies these on the drawing :
1- Wire TO starter motor
2- Wire FROM starter motor
5- Long terminal (on starter solenoid the longer of the two wide posts)

I'm totally guessing on these but looking at the wiring schematic in the back best as I can tell the other wires shown in the drawing look like they would do the following:
3- Wire from starter relay/ignition harness stated designated as to Solenoid
4-would go to battery positive; tied in with voalteg regulator on 30amp breaker
Also guessing that 1 and 2 both connect to the same single terminal on the side of the starter motor since that is the only terminal anywhere on the motor.

Any words of wisdom on this ???? Thanks in advance if anyone can help me out.

Tom

Hoople · Nov 6th, 2009, 09:07 AM

I am going by the wiring diagrams I have for my bike and what makes plain sense, but I would think yours need to be somewhat the same.

In my case the starter solenoid is build right onto the starter. What is separated is the starter Relay. Isn't that the same for you, that is, the high current switch (solenoid) is built right onto the starter and the "starter relay" is remote and actually engages the starter solenoid and not the starter directly.
If the above is TRUE, and your diagram is a picture of the terminal end of your starter solenoid then the following is True.

Wire #3 is correct and must go to the starter RELAY.
Wire #1 (heavy gauge CABLE) is correct. It is a Short Cable that goes to the starter.
Wire #4 is correct and supplies power to the entire bike.
Wire #2 is incorrect. That should be a heavy gauge cable that must go to the battery positive.

Hoop!

jel123 · Nov 6th, 2009, 02:51 PM

forget wiring the starter go with a remote its alot cleaner and no problems,jel

teburns662 · Nov 6th, 2009, 11:46 PM

hoop,
Mine is one f the pre-89 setupd where the solenoid is not attached to the starter it is actually positioned at the top of the inner primary cover. Dont know if it makes a difference. As far as #2 is concerned that would make sense for it to be sent to battery + , I wonder if the Clymer made a misprint and it should have read FROM battery and not FROM starter motor

Nov 6th, 2009, 07:56 AM	#5
teburns662 New Family Ride: Custom Chopper Softail Style Join Date: Nov 5th, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9	87 Softail Starter motor and starter solenoid wiring Ok ...without bursting a hernia laughing at my drawing I have a question if anyone knows and can figure out my drawing. I tried to copy what the clymer manual shows for wiring the solenoid and starter motor. It only specifies a few things and jsut says in the guide to note the wires for reassembly. Which since I am doing a build does me no good. Im building a project using a 1987 Softail primary, transmission, and accessories ( OEM Starter and Solenoid ). The manual specifies these on the drawing : 1- Wire TO starter motor 2- Wire FROM starter motor 5- Long terminal (on starter solenoid the longer of the two wide posts) I'm totally guessing on these but looking at the wiring schematic in the back best as I can tell the other wires shown in the drawing look like they would do the following: 3- Wire from starter relay/ignition harness stated designated as to Solenoid 4-would go to battery positive; tied in with voalteg regulator on 30amp breaker Also guessing that 1 and 2 both connect to the same single terminal on the side of the starter motor since that is the only terminal anywhere on the motor. Any words of wisdom on this ???? Thanks in advance if anyone can help me out. Tom Attached Thumbnails

Nov 6th, 2009, 09:07 AM	#6
Hoople Contributor$ Ride: 2009 Dyna Low Join Date: Aug 16th, 2009 Posts: 1,077	Re: Starter Wiring Questions I am going by the wiring diagrams I have for my bike and what makes plain sense, but I would think yours need to be somewhat the same. In my case the starter solenoid is build right onto the starter. What is separated is the starter Relay. Isn't that the same for you, that is, the high current switch (solenoid) is built right onto the starter and the "starter relay" is remote and actually engages the starter solenoid and not the starter directly. If the above is TRUE, and your diagram is a picture of the terminal end of your starter solenoid then the following is True. Wire #3 is correct and must go to the starter RELAY. Wire #1 (heavy gauge CABLE) is correct. It is a Short Cable that goes to the starter. Wire #4 is correct and supplies power to the entire bike. Wire #2 is incorrect. That should be a heavy gauge cable that must go to the battery positive. Hoop!

Nov 6th, 2009, 02:51 PM	#7
jel123 Play The Throttle Ride: 1999 custom Join Date: Feb 16th, 2009 Posts: 159 My Mood:	Re: Starter Wiring Questions forget wiring the starter go with a remote its alot cleaner and no problems,jel

Nov 6th, 2009, 11:46 PM	#8
teburns662 New Family Ride: Custom Chopper Softail Style Join Date: Nov 5th, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9	Re: Starter Wiring Questions hoop, Mine is one f the pre-89 setupd where the solenoid is not attached to the starter it is actually positioned at the top of the inner primary cover. Dont know if it makes a difference. As far as #2 is concerned that would make sense for it to be sent to battery + , I wonder if the Clymer made a misprint and it should have read FROM battery and not FROM starter motor

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Nov 5th, 2009, 08:21 PM	#1
teburns662 New Family Ride: Custom Chopper Softail Style Join Date: Nov 5th, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9	Starter Wiring Questions I could really use some help here if anyone out there has some info. I'm building a custom chopper that is softail based on mostly everything. I picked up a used 1987 Softail transmission with primary, starter and all to install and was using a Wires Plus seat post wiring harness which really made most wiring pretty easy. I am now trying to wire the starter motor and solenoid referencing a Clymer manual for softails but it isnt specific enough as to what wires connect where on the solenoid/starter setup. Anybody have any ideas where I can find some reference material to help me set this up correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated ! Attached Thumbnails

Nov 5th, 2009, 08:26 PM	#2
R. Lewis Moderators Ride: 07 EG UC Black Pearl Join Date: Nov 3rd, 2007 Location: Bourbon, Missouri Posts: 1,705 My Mood:	Re: Starter Wiring Questions was there anything in the self-help section here? __________________ Out in the middle of nowhere - but still close enough to somewhere!

Nov 5th, 2009, 08:59 PM	#3
teburns662 New Family Ride: Custom Chopper Softail Style Join Date: Nov 5th, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 9	Re: Starter Wiring Questions I didnt see anything specific to starter/solenoid wiring. I need something like a diagram showing the poles for solenoid and starter motor/ battery connections.

Nov 5th, 2009, 09:11 PM	#4
glider Community Liaison Ride: 07 Road King Classic Join Date: Jun 21st, 2007 Posts: 21,062 My Mood:	Re: Starter Wiring Questions Starter Relay Wiring - Harley Davidson Community __________________ Psssst! Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. click me!>>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Starter Wiring Questions

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