Battery/Ground wiring?

[RozS]

Hi! I'm Roz and I have a 1980 XS400 Special that I just finished rewiring the alternator/generator (I'm not sure what the correct term is for the system this bike has, it doesn't look right to technically be a stator, but I digress). Now I'm putting everything back together and frustration and project fatigue are clouding my ability to think through problems.

I'm in the final stages and needing to reconnect the battery. The positive side I've got: one to the terminal, one to the starter solenoid. My issue is the negative side. I have two wires that look like they connect to the battery, one takes some serious finesse to reach, the other has so much extra play it's annoying to try and get it positioned correctly. I'm sure one of the connects somewhere else and I'm just a dummy and can't remember or figure it out, despite studying wiring diagrams until I see them when I close my eyes.

This is the biggest project I've ever taken on, and despite having a strong background in auto repair, it's also the first time I've delt with electrical/electronics, and so much of it just doesn't make sense.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[RozS]

Wow, I really was having a moment. I stared at it for a half hour before remembering that one of those goes to the starter solenoid.

 

[CaptChrome]

Welcome to the forum!

Good job sorting out the issue. I have also found that staring at the bike when I am not sure what's what is an excellent troubleshooting technique. Walking away is also good for me. My brain sometimes needs that in order to catch up.

 

[RozS]

To be fair, I disconnected the solenoid 6 years ago, so it makes sense that I struggled to put it all back, but jeesh!

Now I've got an idle issue, or rather lack of idle, that I need to sort out before spring.

Thanks for the welcome!