New battery arcing

So I'm new to motorcycles but would think batteries are the same no matter what. I just replaced the battery in my KZ750 LTD and every time I go to connect the terminals the batter arcs! I don't want to fry any electronics so I just have up for now. Is there something I'm not doing? I have + connected to + and - to - ....

Stop trying to hook it up before you do damage; something is wrong. Assuming your ignition key is in the "OFF" position, there should be no spark when hooking up the battery. Use a meter and find out where the problem is. It sounds like you have a short in the bike's wiring. Ed

check this out.

I have seen batteries that switch orientation of positive - negative posts.

If your old battery had positive towards solenoid or left side, the new battery might be negative on left post.

Not calling you blind or stupid, just have seen and heard it done. You just might assume the battery is 100% the same as the old one and hook it up like it was.

good luck

Thanks guys! I tried reversing polarity and got nothing. The bike started with the old battery, but the old battery was on it last leg. The ignition was off. The battery is a duralast 12v from autozone. I absolutely hate electronics and wiring so I'll have to have someone take a look at it for me. Thank you for the help!

I have a AutoZone mat battery, came in a red box. It has worked out great.

The guys at AutoZone will help you if you get the bike and battery there.

Well I hope you stick around and post some pics, I'm sure you will have other questions.

Your welcome any time.

Good luck

Ok so here's the update as of now. There are two wires going from the negative post. One gives power to all the electronics and they all work as they should. The other just makes it spark like crazy and one wire started to smoke. The starter clicks so now I'm assuming the relay might be bad? The wire that smokes looks like it may have been tampered with before...I'm at a total loss

Lapp3591 wrote: ... The bike started with the old battery... The ignition was off....

During the process of disconnecting the positive cable from the old battery, and holding the cable out of the way while installing the new battery, and then connecting the cable to the new battery, perhaps a short was created between the cable or its attendant wiring and a frame fitting such as the battery box or other ground.

Good Fortune!

There are two wires going from the negative post. One gives power to all the electronics

This could be a problem. The negative wire doesn't power the electronics.

The positive "+" or red wire powers the electronics.

The negative "-" or black is the battery and chassis ground only.

What is the year and specific model of the kZ750 LTD at hand?

Including information about bike year and model is helpful to viewers and usually elicits better responses.

It's easy to put the information in your signature where it shows in all posted messages, past and future.

And the signature may be changed whenever and as often as desired.

If wanting a signature showing information about the bike in posted messages, it's easy to do.

Here's how:



Regarding the negative battery cable, would check to see where it's attached to the engine or maybe to the frame.

Usually there's only one cable attached to the battery's negative post, with the other end attached to the engine or the frame.

I suppose it would be possible to have the cable from the negative battery post connect to both the engine and the frame, whereby the engine connection would assure an optimal ignition ground and the frame connection would assure an optimal chassis ground, and which would eliminate the possibility of any conductivity issue between engine and chassis.

Good Fortune!

Thanks everyone! It is a 1980 KZ750 LTD. I will snap some pictures of the battery/wiring tmrw to see if that helps!

Lapp3591 wrote: Thanks everyone! It is a 1980 KZ750 LTD. I will snap some pictures of the battery/wiring tmrw to see if that helps!

Good Fortune!

I thought the 80 LTD 750 was a twin.