Engine Ground Question

[cywelchjr]

Ok, color me confused. Where the heck is the ground for the engine? When I changed the engine I didn't disconnect one, and I didn't connect one when I put the new one in, and the starter spins things up really well, but I'm concerned about the quality of the ground, and I'm having a heck of a time setting the timing, it's like all over the place, like I'm getting a ringing or feedback on the ground I'm thinking. Should I just choose a place on the engine to hook a ground strap to and hook that to the frame really well?

Like I said, it seems to be running good, and I'm not seeing any apparent electrical problems other than not being able to use a timing light on it (timed it by ear, gas milage seems good, no ping etc).

[CatatonicBug]

There is a strap that connects to one of the middle drive bolts, from the frame, just under and in front of the battery.

[cywelchjr]

Does anyone have a picture of this strap? I can't see where this would go, and I'm concerned that I really do need it, but I need to know where/how to hook it up.

[trbig]

Goes from the back top bolt on the middle drive to the frame... shown here.






Tod

[cywelchjr]

Wow! The wire was there, but no connector on the engine end, and it was pushed up into the frame. I couldn't find what I thought was an appropriate sized ground strap, but I went and got some 10 gauge wire and crimp on connectors. Made two wires and hooked them both up, and WOW, I have never had the starter spin over so fast. Totally different, I'll put the cheap timing light on it and see if it's working right now. Not sure what else is going to be different yet, but I'm expecting at least that I'm getting better spark now, which should mean at least slightly better mileage.

I'm shocked that it's run this way for at least a year, and I didn't even notice that it was a problem. I wonder now what else I haven't noticed/found wrong yet? Its strange how long it can take to find out what the PO has done sometimes. Still trying to figure out if I'm going to have to replace the entire right hand control to get the starter button back, it's not just the button that missing, everything about the button is gone, wire, backing plate, everything. I haven't found a way to get that part without getting the whole control, just for a stupid starter button. It galls me that I'm probably going to end up spending at LEAST $20 for that control to replace a $2 button.

[Steptoe]

a bit of a tip

when you go to time it next, use a second battery to power the timing light, that way the light won't pick up any variances in the bikes electrical pulses.

The other thing I have done on mine, talking about ground straps, is take both ground leads [ one under the tank & the motor earth ] back to the negative post on the battery, that way you get the best cuircut possible .