IH: Electrical System

Ironhead - Stock Wiring Schematic Drawings (created with reference to the OEM manual)

1959-1985 Sportster Main Wiring Diagrams
The drawings below have been created using the factory schematic drawings from the FSMs as reference. They are available here but are not intended to replace the factory drawings. Some parts symbols are generic, may not represent the actual period parts and have been spread out for clarity from the originals. However, the parts are labeled. The drawings are not to scale and parts and wiring are positioned on the drawings for clarity.


.


1959-1962 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 1)

1959-1964 Sportster H

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 2)

1963-1964 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 3)

1965 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 4)

1965-1966 Sportster H

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 5)

1966 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 6)

1967 Sportster H

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 7)

1967-E1969 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 8)

1968-E1969 Sportster H

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 9)

L1969 Sportster H

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 10)

L1969 Sportster CH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 11)

.


1970-1971 Sportster XLH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 12)

1970-1971 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 13)

1972 Sportster XLH - Standard Seat

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 14)

1972 Sportster XLH - Low Seat

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 15)

1972 Sportster XLCH - Standard Seat

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 16)

1972 Sportster XLCH - Low Seat

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 17)

1973-1974 Sportster XL

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 18)

1973-1974 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 19)

1975-1976 Sportster XL

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 20)

1975-1976 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 21)

1977 Sportster XL

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 22)

1977 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 23)

1978 Sportster XL

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 24)

1978 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 25)

1979 Sportster XLH/XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 26)

1979 Sportster XLCH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 27)

.


1980 Sportster XLH/XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 28)

1981 Sportster XLH/XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 29)

1982 Sportster XLH/XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 30)

1983-E1984 Sportster XLH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 31)

1983-E1984 Sportster XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 32)

1983-E1984 Sportster XLX

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 33)

1983-1984 Sportster XR-1000

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 34)

L1984-1985 Sportster XLH

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 35)

L1984-1985 Sportster XLS

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 36)

L1984-1985 Sportster XLX

Click on the drawing to enlarge:

space100x5px.jpg 37)


L1984-1985 Wiring Issue - Might Be Dangerous

Note: The L84-85 Wiring Diagrams show an improper connection from the Regulator to the Battery.
The wiring diagram shows an unsafe connection but we have not been able to determine if the actual bikes are wired wrong, matching those wrong wiring diagrams. So the following information needs to be verified against the actual bike wiring.

The Main Circuit Breaker is supposed to protect the wiring from a shorted battery. If the regulator is connected directly to the battery (as shown on the diagrams), not utilizing the main circuit breaker for protection, there is a potentially dangerous situation. If the regulator internally or externally shorts that wire, connected to the battery, to ground, the battery will supply upto 200 amps of current, causing the wire to overheat and possibly creating a fire. This is what the Main Circuit breaker is to prevent.

So, the proper way to connect the output of the voltage regulator to the system is at the output side of the Main Circuit Breaker (typically, on the Silver Stud). The battery would be connected to the input side of the Main Circuit Breaker on the Brass Stud.

This is the way earlier & later model wiring diagrams show the connection of the voltage regulator to the circuit breakers. The L84-85 diagrams are the only ones showing this improper, potentially dangerous, wiring.

If you find that your bike is improperly wired, PLEASE, rewire your bike to make it safe. Be sure the output wire of the voltage regulator is connected to the output side of the Main Circuit Breaker (typically, on the Silver Stud).

Because so many bikes (especially the Ironheads) have had the wiring modified (either deliberately or simply by accident while making repairs or modifications) it is hard to find this answer unless you have a truly UNMOLESTED model of those years. For those who don't understand this issue (and its dangers), I can imagine that putting the wiring back improperly (maybe for convenience) was easy to do.??


1)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 168 used as reference
2)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 166 used as reference
3)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 170 used as reference
4)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 173 used as reference
5)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 172 used as reference
6)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 174 used as reference
7)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 175 used as reference
8)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 176 used as reference
9)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 178 used as reference
10)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 180 used as reference
11)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1957-1969 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH FSM pg 181 used as reference
12)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-3 used as reference
13) , 14)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-5 used as reference
15) , 17)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-7 used as reference
16)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-6 used as reference
18) , 19)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-9 used as reference
20) , 21)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-11 used as reference
22) , 23)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-13 used as reference
24) , 25)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1970-1978 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM pg 5-15 used as reference
26) , 27) , 28) , 29) , 30) , 31) , 32) , 33) , 34) , 35) , 36) , 37)
drawing by Hippysmack, the 1979-1985 HD Sportster XL/XLH/XLCH/XLT FSM used as reference
This website uses cookies for visitor traffic analysis. By using the website, you agree with storing the cookies on your computer.More information