Harley Starter Wiring

By Dennis Santopietro

Question Question on Harley starter wiring for you. I have a 1990 FLHS, there are 3 wires 1 wire from the battery, 1 that goes to the switch (50) and 1 other wire. I cannot remember how this connects except for the switch wire. Does the battery and the smaller wires go the terminal without the boot? Also once connected it turns over but won’t start. It has been a year since it was started. Thanks Keith


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Answer Keith, the smaller black wire goes, together, with the heavy black cable to the long starter post/lug. The smaller black wire is powering your main breaker. The tan wire is the trigger from your starter relay; it plugs onto the male spade connector at the bottom of your starter.

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9 Responses to “Harley Starter Wiring”

  1. STEPHEN KING

    my taco blinkers and elect start stopped working, all else good and runs.lately turning right wires seemed to pull tight ,been looking for breaks and fuses seem ok is there any relays or fuses related to these three things,thanks.

  2. HOWARD

    my 94 hugger has a black wire with red tape on the ends that I assume goes to the positive battery terminal. There is a bolt covered with a rubber boot on top of the solenoid and I don't know what goes there. Any help would be appreciated. I bought the bike disassembled.

  3. Al

    Location of starter relay on 09 electra gluide?

  4. Ed

    I have a 1981 FLT. I want to move put a smaller battery under the seat, and get rid of the flat side gas tank. Is there a battery box year that I can use under the seat, and is there a specific year tank that will fit my frame?

  5. Lou

    99 fxdx starter..... The ground bolts to the starter bolt and the 2 other ones goes to the + on top.... Right?

  6. Eddie

    The wires that go to the starter on my 96 fat boy the bigger one goes to the starter where does the smalller one go?

  7. Don Ransom

    where is the starter relay located on a 1993 FLHS

  8. jose

    1991 flhs can the starter solenoid be rebuilt while starter is on the bike?i cooked the battery ,melted the ground post..have replaced batt,cables,circut brkr. and now every once in a while when starting bike will lose all elec power.breaker will pop.10 seconds later every thing works fine.wondering what else to check

  9. Byron

    Where is the starter relay for a 2011 FLSTC located?