Topic: Gremlin in the wiring...

[la ca fe]

I re-wired my 77 cb750 and realized that the ground cable from the battery heats up real hot when I press the starter button. The starter turns over fine, like it should. When I disconnect the cable from the solenoid that leads to the starter motor and press the start button there is no heat on the Negative battery cable.

I think the problem is the starter motor? Why is there a frame ground from the starter motor when it is engaging?
Has anyone had this as a problem?

[la ca fe]

The ground cable is not stock. It is a flat braided cable about 1" wide, by 1/4" tall by 6" long. It is a bare ground wire, uncovered by any protective coating. Don't know why I chose to use this wire instead of the stock one? I'll swap it out with a stock one and give it another try.

[Bodi]

Make sure the ground cable connection is excellent. It is unusual to just rewire a bike - usually that's part of a bigger project... so maybe you had the frame painted? The frame hole for the engine bolt where the ground cable attaches sbould have bare metal showing on both faces. I have chased weird electrical problems on restos with powder coated frames because the ground connection was weak.