SIMPLE Ground Q

[Guest]

Setting the bike back together after cleaning and painting the carbs and replacing the fuse box.

Stopped to think about how the bike was wired as I took it apart (PO or origin, don't know) - and it didn't make sense.

The blk/wht harness grounding wire was placed between the frame and the battery box as shown.



This doesn't make sense as it has a small contact point.

WITHOUT going into a full grounding analysis (covered under many different threads) shouldn't I move this to a better location?

[850GT_Rider]

Is that wire the HEAVY wire leading from the battery negative terminal? If so, it should go down to the engine casing I would think.

For the smaller ones, lots of places to land it other than on an semi-insulated bolt. It may have originally gone to one of the mounting bolts for the starter solenoid.

[Riding Again]

No it's a light wire. There's a similar one to the starter solenoid. This is one of the two lighter ones in the harness. I've a heavy located elsewhere.

[posplayr]

Is that wire the HEAVY wire leading from the battery negative terminal? If so, it should go down to the engine casing I would think.

For the smaller ones, lots of places to land it other than on an semi-insulated bolt. It may have originally gone to one of the mounting bolts for the starter solenoid.

Therein lies the dilemma, I would have said to the frame but it might also need the battery box. Depends on what else is going on...........

without having a schematic it is hard to tell.

[Nessism]

Grounding though the grommet bushing is BAD! At minimum, I'd run an addition jumper from the grommet bolt to a solid frame mounting point.

[850GT_Rider]

Therein lies the dilemma, I would have said to the frame but it might also need the battery box. Depends on what else is going on...........

without having a schematic it is hard to tell.

Wiring diagram might be on Cliff's webpage.

[Riding Again]

I agree that this spot was bad. It does nothing for the battery box (insulated from it by the bushing) so it becomes a frame ground. The other ring lug is placed under the solenoid mounting bolt (plate next to the battery box) and that makes sense.

I'll re-position the box wire so it is sandwiched between the frame and the grommet. I'll also remove some paint to make sure that it's got bare metal to contact and throw in some dielectric grease as well.

[BigD_83]

I wouldn't swear to it in court, but I'm pretty sure I had a ground wire mounted the same way on my 650 when I acquired it. I wondered the same thing and moved it to the bottom of the stack so at least it was a frame ground.

[Riding Again]

Therein lies the dilemma, I would have said to the frame but it might also need the battery box. Depends on what else is going on...........

without having a schematic it is hard to tell.

I appreciate the help, but the wiring schematic just goes to chassis ground. On my bike, there is a side plate to the battery box which is bolted to the box. The fuse box and starter solenoid is fastened to this plate.

There is another ring lug as I said above which was found under the solenoid mounting bolt providing the other chassis ground as indicated in the wiring schematic.

I think at least one of the chassis grounds needs to be attached to the frame and so that is why I relocated the wire point to be in solid contact with the frame instead of relying upon a bushing.

[posplayr]

I appreciate the help, but the wiring schematic just goes to chassis ground. On my bike, there is a side plate to the battery box which is bolted to the box. The fuse box and starter solenoid is fastened to this plate.

There is another ring lug as I said above which was found under the solenoid mounting bolt providing the other chassis ground as indicated in the wiring schematic.

I think at least one of the chassis grounds needs to be attached to the frame and so that is why I relocated the wire point to be in solid contact with the frame instead of relying upon a bushing.

Generally I have seen two Black/White ring lug grounds on any GS harness. One of these goes to the battery box bolt as a frame ground.
One goes to where ever the R/R is mounted or the R/R(-) is connected to return current to the R/R(-).
If the battery box had a component on it that is returning current through the frame then it would also need to be grounded to the frame somehow.

Generally the only things that I can recall return current via the frame (or not through the harness) are:

• mechanical contact points
• Dyna-S
• Spark Plug secondary current (of the spark)
• Oil sensor light
• Gear position indicator
• starter motor
• starter solenoid {unless direct to R/R(-)}
• Ignitor

[Riding Again]

Generally I have seen two Black/White ring lug grounds on any GS harness. One of these goes to the battery box bolt as a frame ground.
One goes to where ever the R/R is mounted or the R/R(-) is connected to return current to the R/R(-).
If the battery box had a component on it that is returning current through the frame then it would also need to be grounded to the frame somehow.

Generally the only things that I can recall return current via the frame (or not through the harness) are:

• mechanical contact points
• Dyna-S
• Spark Plug secondary current (of the spark)
• Oil sensor light
• Gear position indicator
• starter motor
• starter solenoid {unless direct to R/R(-)}
• Ignitor

Thanks Posplayr for confirming where the wire needed to go.

Again, the ring lug attached to the battery box mounting bolt was/is isolated from the box by the rubber grommet/bushing. There were/are no components attached directly to the box (as they are held by rubber pieces to little square hooks) or are on the side plate where the other ring lug is attached to the starter solenoid mounting bracket.

The ring lug in question was the wire harness lug to provide the frame ground for the other components listed.

[Steve]

That location will not work to connect the battery box itself to chassis ground, but, since the bolt that is touching the wire connector is threaded into the chassis, it WILL connect whatever is on the other end of the wire to the chassis.

.