installed new handle bars and now???

[troubled1]

I installed new drag bars on my xs and now the starter button won't work...is it grounded through the bars? Mine are coated

[bikerphil]

Yes it is, best off running a new ground somehow to the R/S switch housing, or if you don't mind sanding the coating off the bar in that area.

[troubled1]

I don't mind...should I sand it off at the risers too?

[DGXSER]

Here is a thought, will the bike be garaged or kept outdoors? Anywhere you scrape off the coating, is now bare metal subject to corroding, and causing a future poor ground. Running a wire up to the handle bars through the sheath that the harness wires are in should not be to difficult. Bring it in the switch and put a connector on ti to fit one of the small screws, and it is grounded, now run the other end to one of the screws mounting the reg/rect for a good ground.

My thought is that in the 81 model (and I thought the 80 model) Mommy Yammie added a ground wire to the starter switch instead of relying on the bars for a ground. Must have realized it was a problematic method of grounding.

[bikerphil]

There is a ground wire present at the L/S switch, you'd have to sand there too. I like the wire idea better but your choice.

[motoman]

Here is a thought, will the bike be garaged or kept outdoors? Anywhere you scrape off the coating, is now bare metal subject to corroding, and causing a future poor ground. Running a wire up to the handle bars through the sheath that the harness wires are in should not be to difficult. Bring it in the switch and put a connector on ti to fit one of the small screws, and it is grounded, now run the other end to one of the screws mounting the reg/rect for a good ground.

My thought is that in the 81 model (and I thought the 80 model) Mommy Yammie added a ground wire to the starter switch instead of relying on the bars for a ground. Must have realized it was a problematic method of grounding.

Changing out the stock bars and putting on a set of fully adjustable Heli-Bars on my Venturer Ihad to wrap a piece of emory paper around the area where the controls and throttle tube mount and polish the powdercoat off to get a ground. Plus, the throttle tube was dragging on the powdercoat and causing throttle to return slowly.

[troubled1]

Very good advice...I'll run the wire for ground as corrosion could make things difficult. The bike will be garage kept but may ride in the rain a time or two as I live in Oregon. Thanks fellas. I'll let ya know how it goes. Cheers

[troubled1]

Sanded down contact points on the bars and she's alive!!! Thanks again ;-)