81 GS450s R/R wiring question

[Superfly]

Well, I am in stage 2 of the GS restore,

Stage 1 - Get bike running...
Stage 2 - Get bike running right & Charging right
Stage 3 - Get bike looking great.

The Bike Runs great (I think the R/R is shot) but I have a question about the wiring in the area of the R/R.

In my manual, it shows a wire going directly from the R/R to the battery (Red?) Is this true? I have worked on other bikes where it goes off the starter solenoid.

The reason I am asking is right before I bought the bike, someone stole the battery out of the bike, and there is some "creative wiring" in that area. Basically, the solid red wire from the harness is going into a inline fuse, and splitting off into the R/R main red wire, and wired directly into the battery. The bike runs like this, but I want to make sure it is right... something looks suspect in this area. If anyone could let me know the exact wiring of this area (pictures, verbal description) I would be a extremely happy GS owner.

Thank you

[SqDancerLynn1]

That would be basicly the same connection Battery or starter soloniod. Either way would be OK

[Nessism]

The red battery cable runs from the battery post over to the starter solonoid. There's another short red wire that has a fuse but I can't remember where it breaks-out; before or after the solonoid. I can check tonight and post back if necessary.

Good luck.

Ed

[argonsagas]

There should be TWO red wires.

BOTH connect to the positive terminal on the battery.

One is a thick wire (approximately 8 AWG) and runs between the battery and the solenoid.

The second is smaller in size (14AWG) and runs between the battery and the Regulator/Rectifier.

Technically, there is a second thick red wire, but it does not connect to the battery. It runs from the second post on the solenoid to the starter.

[Superfly]

Thank you for the responses, they help alot! I guess my main question is (since there is no fuse box in this bike) where does the wiring harness hook into the battery then? Is it split off of the solenoid to battery connection, or R/R to battery connection.... the harness has to hook up in there somewhere... right?

[Nessism]

Okay, checked my bike tonight and there is a short removable cable that bolts to the positive battery post and has two wires; one fat wire runs to the solenoid and another thinner wire with a fuse in-line that runs up to a bullet connector feeding into the main wire loom (not sure where it goes).

Hope this helps.

Ed

[Superfly]

Thank you ed. Could you tell me where your R/R hooks up to (I am sorry about this...) but I am trying to wire from a wiring diagram, and it is confusing to say the least (never seen one wired before...)