The negative lead will go straight to a ground and the large positive lead will end up at the starter. Tracing the wire is easiest way to do it, but if that's impossible for some reason, find the large positive terminal on the starter and use an ohmmeter to see which battery terminal provides continuity.

Whatever you do, don't hook a battery up backwards. You can cause a lot of expensive damage to the electrical system that way. Be sure of what you are doing, and if you are not sure, professional help will be cheaper than getting it wrong.

I would recommend using a proper voltage motorcycle battery. These are usually 12 volts, although some older models used 6 volt batteries.

 

Dods is correct the ground will go either straight to the frame or the motor and be bolted down. The positive will go to your solenoid typically under the seat somewhere (it will be an electrical box of some kind) or directly to the starter. Just follow them back. I would try to tell you the left or right side of the bike but I am not sure if you bike is still original or not so its just to risky and be wrong.

 

sorry guys, sometimes the ground lead does not go straight to ground. sometimes it goes either to a harness or multiple leads, or to to a rectifier, or resistor.
fact is the only way to find out is with a multimeter, if you hook a meter up backwards, the meter will tell you. there should be a + on the battery. that indicates the positive side duh.
If a red lead from the starter solenoid gos to one of the battery wires, you can be fairly sure that is the + but, some bikes in the 70's were positive ground. that was to correct a phase variation when using high output alternators for lights and accessories.

 

This kinda goes along with what ^^^ was saying, some multimeters even have an ohm or continuity check setting, if you locate the positive terminal on the starter and set one lead from the meter to it, then touch each of the two wires to the battery with the other lead and see which one gives you a reading (mine beeps when there is continuity) then that should be the correct terminal wire

 

Not that I have anything constructive to add here............but every Battery "I" have ever seen, has the Positive and Negative symbols molded (embossed, engraved) into the cover (by Law).



-Soupy

 

True, for the battery, but not necessarily for the wires that connect to it.
The OP was asking about the wires, I believe.

 

"True, for the battery, but not necessarily for the wires that connect to it.
The OP was asking about the wires, I believe."

This is correct. I was certainly dreading trying to find the lead that went to the starter, as it was not apparent from the outside of the engine cases. So I went down there and just got after. It turns out it was fortunate that I did. This all started A couple weeks ago after I took my bike out of storage. I couldn't keep a trickle charger hooked up to it, Because there is no electricity available in a storage unit. I kept the battery healthy at home and when I installed it at the storage unit everything seemed okay. But as I drove it down the road I started to notice that the electrics were beginning to fail. I ended up pushing it about a mile home. I got a new battery and put it in the same way I had the old one and started smoking. This forced me to get down and really follow those leads. Sure enough, the lead I had previously attached to the positive terminal lead over to A starter solenoid. This wire had also been worn bare in one spot and was shorting out against the frame. I fix that and everything is copacetic now. Thanks for everyone's help.:biggrin:

 

Yes, that seems to be true. But when the electrics went haywire on me I wanted to be doubly certain that things were done the right way.

 

It may be a good idea to label the wires now that you know which is which for future reference. Some red spray paint on the positive wire should do it. (Unless the replacement wire you used already has red insulation on it)

 

Contrary to what most folks believe, electricity does NOT flow from positive to negative. Little bitty negatively-charged electrons actually flow from negative to positive. So hold up your two wires, look closely, and you should be able to see a little "waterfall" of electrons from the negative cable. Easier in the dark.

/snark

 

waterfall?

 

1. Get an ohm meter.

2. Clip one lead to metal anywhere on the engine.

3. Clip the other lead to one of the battery wires.

If you have infinite resistance, that is the positive wire.

If you have zero resistance, that is the negative wire.

If you have infinite resistance on both wires, then move the other lead to a location with good metal contact on the engine/frame.

If you have zero resistance on both wires, then there is a short in the system..do not hook up the battery until you correct the problem.

 

I also have a question, my virago 920 has two wires coming from my pos. And when I try to crank it, my pos Sparks, why is this?

 

Is it loose by chance?

 

You know, it's not. But the bolt is smaller than the hole on the POS wire and there is a smaller red wire leading to under my seat and the loop broke due to tightening it down.

 

Any ideas?

 

Yeah, who resuscitated this old thread? I agree with Critter. Has to be a loose wire on the battery or a wire loose and touching something else causing it to ground.

 

I put a washer on it and test it

 

How'd that work out for you/