MK III starter cable upgrade size, what are you all using?

When it comes to battery cables, I use the largest gauge I can get or fit. Same goes for the batteries in my 4 wheelers.

Slick
 
I don't have a Mk3 but, DD lists #6's on his website.

I saw the three wires, didn't realize they had a solenoid.
So I went here..
granttiller.com

Grant Tiller | ***UPDATED*** Norton Commando Wiring Diagrams

*** Updated for February 2025 *** I first published this page in July 2019, and with his kind permission used Bill Turnbull's colorised diagram as the basis for my work. My site is now getting around 100 visits per day, and over half the hits are coming to this page - so I have updated
granttiller.com granttiller.com

Which leads to more questions.
If I'm seeing this correctly, the solenoid fires off with completion of the ground, which also gives a full voltage
charge to the coils, by passing the ballast resistor.
Is this correct?

Not trying to high jack, just curious..

Back to the cables. Bigger cables are obviously better, electrically.
I usually go with bigger is better in everything.
Now I'm back to using the correct size, not oversize.
It would seem the #6's would be easier to work with in tight spaces, than #4's.
Just my $.02.
 
MichaelB said:
I don't have a Mk3 but, DD lists #6's on his website.

I saw the three wires, didn't realize they had a solenoid.
So I went here..
granttiller.com

Grant Tiller | ***UPDATED*** Norton Commando Wiring Diagrams

*** Updated for February 2025 *** I first published this page in July 2019, and with his kind permission used Bill Turnbull's colorised diagram as the basis for my work. My site is now getting around 100 visits per day, and over half the hits are coming to this page - so I have updated
granttiller.com granttiller.com

Which leads to more questions.
If I'm seeing this correctly, the solenoid fires off with completion of the ground, which also gives a full voltage
charge to the coils, by passing the ballast resistor.
Is this correct?

Not trying to high jack, just curious..

Back to the cables. Bigger cables are obviously better, electrically.
I usually go with bigger is better in everything.
Now I'm back to using the correct size, not oversize.
It would seem the #6's would be easier to work with in tight spaces, than #4's.
Just my $.02.
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting that DD link.
 
concours said:
#6?
#4?
Click to expand...
# 6 Marine, crimped and soldered ends.
I also connect all the main wire feeds (ie Brown/blue) off the solenoid lug to avoid clutter at the battery
There is also a service bulletin saying to remove the small gauge ground wires from the motor (by the head steady) and rely on the big ground behind the barrels.
Pete
 
Deets55 said:
There is also a service bulletin saying to remove the small gauge ground wires from the motor (by the head steady) and rely on the big ground behind the barrels.
Click to expand...

There was an NVT Service Bulletin about disconnecting and clipping off the battery positive terminal from the harness to prevent it potentially burning out from starter motor current. This also applies to the 850 Mk3 in which case the harness head steady (to engine) wire should not be removed.

MK III starter cable upgrade size, what are you all using?
 
Don't know the gauge of the starter wire on my MK111 , but it's thick , big , yellow insulator coated , using gold plated larger terminal ends . I bought the gold plated ring terminal ends many years back when gold was cheap and the price was fixed , not floating . Works a treat .
 
Thanks for the replies.
I made up the #6 fine strand (tinned) marine cables. I had done a similar upgrade on my Tiger 1050 a few years back. Buying the battery cable crimping anvil then, used it many times since. I had the #6 x 1/4" lugs on hand.
MK III starter cable upgrade size, what are you all using?
 
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