are solenoids interchangeable?

[Guest]

are those things pretty much universal as long as the have the same wire out?

I saw some people here using lawn mower relays from lowes, if I pick up one thats made for another bike but has the same wire out (like this), will it work as expected?


not a trivial question, its a $70 swing for the oem one for my bike.

thanks in advance

[slayer61]

Yes. The solenoid is a kind of "universal" thing. It's a way to allow a low current switch (your start button) to operate a high current device (your starter motor). Of course mount points may be different, but essentially it's the same thing. Paul

[Highway_Glider]

It's all the same as far as function.

It could be one from a car or a tractor it still would do. There would be two small connectors and two larger ones. you can reverse the two small or the two larger with impunity...Unless one as one of the larger connection to ground. Then that one MUST be ground.

[posplayr]

What slayer says is true, but I would not say universal unless you specify +12v systems. Actually there are two primary ratings for a solenoid , how much current it can carry and what the activation voltage is.
Having said that you seldom see current ratings. So you kind of infer current rating from the size of the main power connections. For example a typical 30/40 amp Bosch relay is functionally identical to the starter solenoid also runs off +12v. But you would no want to use that. The wire connections for 30 and 74 are too small (spade connections)

[Steve]

Yes, the one you linked to will work, but you will have to make one small wiring change.

The plug with the two smaller wires can be removed. Your yellow/green wire will connect to the solenoid's yellow wire and the black wire will have to be connected to a ground point. Usually, you can install a ring terminal and just put it under one of the solenoid mounting bolts, but you will have to make sure that the panel to which the solenoid mounts has a good ground, too. On all of our bikes, the solenoid is attached to the side of the battery box, which is rubber-isolated, so there is a separate ground wire, too.

.

[SVSooke]

Solenoids in the later model GS's had 2 wire with that connector on them Steve.Should be plug and play for detorn's 83 550.

[detorn]

you guys all rock, ordering now.