1970 Horn Wire

[billpedalino]

Can anyone advise me of the correct routing of the black wire coming from the handlebar horn button to the horn on a 1970 XLCH? I bought a wire loom and the wire included is far too short. I'm thinking that it runs outside the top frame tube on the left side, beneath the gas tank? Possibly through the top frame tube and back to the horn?
Thank You...

[otis71]

Never had a 70 but on 65-69 XLCH it runs through the triple tree and around the right side of the frame under the tank along the backbone and drops to the horn behind the top motor mount. If memory serves it should be 30” long.

[billpedalino]

Thanks Otis, I kind of thought so, but wasn't sure given the through-frame main harness. I took the original harness off of this bike in the early 1970's (it was a burn up) so there's no way I would have remembered!

[Spag]

Biil

I have a restored 1970 Sportster . These photo are the best I could do. Note the wire from the loom to the horn looks like it was long enough. Let me know if you have any questions. I don’t know if the horn wire is separate from the wiring loom and just connected to the terminal under the triple tree and the horn.

Richard


IMG_2087.jpeg IMG_2088.jpeg IMG_2089.jpeg

[Spag]

This is a photo of the horn wire from the Sportster parts book. It appears to be a separate wire from thr terminal to the horn. I think the photos I attached above demonstrate that the horn wires are directed to the shortest distance from the terminal to the horn.

IMG_6532.jpeg

[billpedalino]

This is a photo of the horn wire from the Sportster parts book. It appears to be a separate wire from thr terminal to the horn. I think the photos I attached above demonstrate that the horn wires are directed to the shortest distance from the terminal to the horn.

IMG_6532.jpeg

Thank you Spag. The wire that are in my harness kit are definitely incorrect, but I've seen that routinely on kits I've purchased for the other bikes that I've restored. Your photos are quite helpful, but they do raise a question about the cable route shown. I've always seen the wire running from alongside the side of the frame neck (as Otis stated, above), beneath the tank and down along the top motor mount to the horn. Maybe 1970 is different?
Also - very nice bike!

[otis71]

The 66-69 the wire is separate with its own loom but as I said any knowledge I have is prior to 1970. Most likely the harness would change for 70 because the frame is longer but handlebar to horn would remain the same so it seems unlikely that it was changed. I tried cross referencing the part numbers but couldn’t find them for the individual wires.

[otis71]

Does the 1970 model have a terminal behind the headlight? I guess that would be the difference because 66-69 doesn’t have that terminal.

[Spag]

Yes, the 1970 Sportster model does have a separate terminal behind the headlight. I believe there is a black wire from the horn button through the right handlebar which connects directly to the terminal. Then a separate wire goes from the terminal to the horn.

[billpedalino]

Yes, the 1970 Sportster model does have a separate terminal behind the headlight. I believe there is a black wire from the horn button through the right handlebar which connects directly to the terminal. Then a separate wire goes from the terminal to the horn.

Thanks to all for your input.
That's exactly correct Spag - black wire to the terminal board, but the horn button is on the left handlebar.
Equally confusing is how to correctly route the wires after they exit the rear of the top frame tube. I have to assume that the plastic wire cover ends shortly past the point where they exit the rear of the top frame tube, as the wires branch out in different directions. Beside the yellow wire to the oil pressure sender, are any of these other wires enclosed in a plastic loom cover past that exit point?

[billpedalino]

Thanks to all for your input.
That's exactly correct Spag - black wire to the terminal board, but the horn button is on the left handlebar.
Equally confusing is how to correctly route the wires after they exit the rear of the top frame tube. I have to assume that the plastic wire cover ends shortly past the point where they exit the rear of the top frame tube, as the wires branch out in different directions. Beside the yellow wire to the oil pressure sender, are any of these other wires enclosed in a plastic loom cover past that exit point?

OOPS ! - Correction. Black wire from handlebar button to horn. Handlebar button to terminal board is orange. At this age, I shouldn't trust anything from memory!!

[Spag]

After a second look, the horn wire on my Sportster from the terminal to the horn can easily fit along the frame under the tank and connect unobtrusively to the horn. An easy fix once I decide to see if I can do this without removing the tank. Just lazy I guess

[billpedalino]

After a second look, the horn wire on my Sportster from the terminal to the horn can easily fit along the frame under the tank and connect unobtrusively to the horn. An easy fix once I decide to see if I can do this without removing the tank. Just lazy I guess

LOL - I get it! You hate to touch a part after you've installed it and its pristine...