'homemade' wiring harness

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dynodave said:
What's wrong with the original norton/lucas red ground wire?
Improving the turn signal ground it's self is understandable.
The originals were chromed plastic and the ground can be problematic.
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Edit: I guess I should have said on the taillight when there is none. There's nothing wrong with the grounds that exist - I add grounds to the turn signals when they don't exist and I add a ground to the tail light when it doesn't exist.
 
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https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/another-commando-back-from-the-dead.23146/

'homemade' wiring harness


'homemade' wiring harness
 
NortonMKIIA850 said:
Also to be borne in mind, though, is that things like........... the rear/brake light don't have dedicated earths, but they should.
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The standard Commando L917 brake and tail lamp does ('73-on).
I thought the earlier L679 lamp models did too?
 
marshg246 said:
Some Triumph diagrams show the earth symbol as "Via Fixing Bolt" and that symbol with "Red" written beside it as "Earth Connections Made Via Cable". In other words, Triumph was clear that the frame was part of the grounding system. Norton is not clear but since the engine is electrically isolated from the frame, it's best to assume it needs a red wire ground.

My 1974 Commando MK2A did not have a ground to the engine and the harness is original as far as I know. I corrected that as soon as I got the bike. It did have a frame ground, rear fender ground, and a coil mount ground. My harness has all the Interpol wires but was not an Interpol bike.
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Don't care in the slightest about triumph
Were you the original new owner of the 74? or did a butcher precede your ownership? probably
In 30 years, NO commando I have ever worked on failed to have a red engine grounding wire.
I still currently own about 10 commando's. The 4 featherbed and 2 gardengate don't count for this topic.
 
L.A.B. said:
The standard Commando L917 brake and tail lamp does ('73-on).
I thought the earlier L679 lamp models did too?
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I plead Easter Sunday brain fatigue – I'd forgotten that my earth for the rear light had merely failed internally somewhere ...!
 
Sorry I mentioned the existence of simplified wire diagram and apologize for offering any wrong headed advice , I 'm certain the experts on here are way more versed than me .... I did base my re-wire job on one of these diagrams and I think it was from Britcycle catalogue , a long time ago .... I do remember running some red ground wires , one from engine to battery for sure....funny thing is , that was at least 15 years ago and truly I have had no electrical issues since and obviously I am a moron when it comes to electricity .... must have been "shit house luck" , eh ?
 
dynodave said:
Don't care in the slightest about triumph
Were you the original new owner of the 74? or did a butcher precede your ownership? probably
In 30 years, NO commando I have ever worked on failed to have a red engine grounding wire.
I still currently own about 10 commando's. The 4 featherbed and 2 gardengate don't count for this topic.
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No, I'm the 3rd owner of an unrestored 74 MK2A. The prior owners did no work on the bikes themselves and I have the service history. I believe that the wiring is original except for the installation long ago of a RITA. There was no red wire coming from the harness that could attach to the engine so I added one. Clearly, I said "as far as I know" - it's certainly possible that someone remade the harness and eliminated the engine ground.

Three of my Commandos have/had no engine ground wire coming out of the harness. The others I have don't have wiring harnesses so I can't say about them. My 74 Interstate has a frame to engine ground, but that was restored and several things are wrong.

If you have a known original, I would love to see how is it grounded - I generally make the harnesses myself and would prefer to do it like the originals.

I mention Triumph because Norton, Triumph, BSA, et. Al. had little to nothing to do with the wiring harnesses or the drawings so they can all be forgiven for not being clear about such things.
 
marshg246
check out post #14 line #3 I'm 99.9% sure that my claim is correct for 71 and up with only minor changes and a few additions for MKIII. I have a 5 mile new never registered MKIII and my 330046 on the road since 1995 with an original unmolested harness. I have studied commando wiring for 71+ adnausium and I do try to not make sloppy and stupid statements.
FWIW any commando without an engine ground is at high risk of killing an electronic ignition when, on ocassion, the clutch cable fails to ground the engine.
 
Atlas Commando said:
Ashman, could you possibly post a pic of your crimper or perhaps a make/model number? I tried one or two over the years and suspect I never spent enough to get a good one. I always went back to stubbornly soldering everything which takes about 5 times as long with no great advantage in the end. I'd like to join the modern era.
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The crimping tool I have is a rachet type and crimps the termals in two places it has three settings for the termals that are used red, blue and yellow for the size of the wire, it will rachet to the right amount then release so its not over sceezing it, you can get these from any electical supply stores, pay the extra money to get a good one and it will last a life time and a good splicing tool helps as well.
Hope this helps as I am away from my shed I have seen these tools sold as a complete kit with splicing tool and termals, I was lucky I aquired mine from where I worked many years ago.

Ashley
 
dynodave said:
FWIW any commando without an engine ground is at high risk of killing an electronic ignition when, on ocassion, the clutch cable fails to ground the engine.
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Couldn't agree more and never disputed it! I added a ground because I didn't think the clutch, choke, and throttle cables were good ways to ground an engine even though it works.
 
recently I tore all of the original harness, connectors, and wiring out of my Commando and threw it all away
Ordered a "PC-8" from Eastern Beaver supply to connect the individual live and ground wires to it then to the battery terminals
and very importantly, I learned to never, ever, trust frame grounds and instead lead every ground wire back to the pos battery terminal
connecting wires together? I learned to solder wires and shrink wrap using mostly high grade spade connectors for ease of future repairs
 
I am not trying to sell you on this idea, but the last Commando that I rebuilt, I put a multiple terminal block under the seat and ran almost everything back to it, including the grounds. My theory was that if I had an electrical issue on a trip, it would be easier to isolate systems. It worked well. I also kept the zener diode, capacitor, and regulator so in case of a podtronic failure I could switch back to old school on the side of the road. Never had an electrical issue.

With all of the updated electrical stuff you have, it makes more sense to draw your own diagram.

The one I am doing now will have Boyer, 3 phase stator, Podtronics, all new modern switchgear, all led lights, air horn with relay, Eclipse battery monitor,a Madass oil pressure warning light, remote power outlet for heated jacket, a remote plug for battery charger, and maybe some led running lights.
Do you think I should make my own harness ????

Oh yea, almost forgot.
84ok, that sho is purdy!
 
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marshg246 said:
Couldn't agree more and never disputed it! I added a ground because I didn't think the clutch, choke, and throttle cables were good ways to ground an engine even though it works.
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A regular/stock commando throttle and choke has the 2-1 plastic splitters and can not conduct electricity .
 
Gosh darn 84ok, what a delicious over kill loom an old fart can look at longer and appreciate more than naked movie star. Still a good ole trailer connector is more compact as were Lucus bullets not made to last but till Norton came out with a modern cycle everyone would want and afford. Ok 84ok, what connects your ignition leads under the cover space? XTINCT ya just being silly bragging on great features I'm putting in Mz Peel too. BTW ya can get Li battery in Commando size that has phone and puter and cig lighter outlets for camp site convenience. Might provide for GPS and dash cam too. Bluetooth to helmet stereo on my mind to boot with sonic transducers filling in for subwoofer hits. Mz Peel get deep purple LED back lights too. Rod Rayborn of NC was 1st LED back lit Commando I saw 2004 - he flipped canvas off at night turned on LEDs to seem like viewing a UFO sci fi Hover vacuum art deco shapes alien craft!

https://d114hh0cykhyb0.cloudfront.n...-Lighting-Cool-White-Flexible-Light-Strip.jpg
 
dynodave said:
A regular/stock commando throttle and choke has the 2-1 plastic splitters and can not conduct electricity .
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True, but then the metal can choke junction and the individual twin pull throttle cables can. Both of which I have.
 
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