Motorcycle Repair: wiring starter relay, jumper wire, starter relay


Question
1975 SPORTSTER: HAS RELAY WITH 2 SMALL TERMINALS; ONE TERMINAL HAS AN[I], AND ONE HAS A[S]; I HAVE IT WIRED FROM SMALL TERMINAL ON SOLENOID TO SMALL TERMINAL[S]ON STARTER RELAY; WHEN I TURN IGNITION SWITCH ON, MY LIGHTS COME ON, BUT WHEN I HIT START, NOTHING HAPPENS; HAVE I GOT WIRE ON RIGHT TERMINAL ON RELAY, OR SHOULD IT BE ATTACHED TO [I] TERMINAL ON STARTER RELAY?

Answer
First dicconnect the small wire that you have attached. With a test light check to see if you have power going to the relay, by pushing starter button. If you dont hten you have a bad wire or a short or a bad starter button. If you do then move the wire to the other terminal and try it. The orgional relay had only 3 posts. You can also check it by removeing the small wire and run a jumper wire from the battery and just touch the other small post. The starter should turn over.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike