Bike stopped, battery cable grounded

[maico4x]

I just bought a used Harley custom and it stopped running after I started it the other day.
Just went dead. No lights, starter, nothing. Come to find out , the postive battery cable is shorted out some how. Does this mean the solenoid or starter is bad? I build a lot of vintage bikes, but this my first Harley so I'm going to have to learn things real quick. Any help would be appreciated. Thanka Jeff

[Wide]

Hi Jeff

Sorry to here that. The bikes are pretty robust, I would check for any shorts then reconnect it. I have done worse

[junior]

the cable itself shorted? never seen that....if it's a "custom" then you likely have a rigid or softail i assume. check where the positive cable runs down through the bottom plate in the oil bag and see if it rubbed through and grounded- that would be the only thing i could think of...

j

[FloydWho]

disconnect the cable from the starter and see if the short goes away. If you have to change out the cable it's pretty simple and you can make one don't have to buy a harley part.

[lewintennessee]

Had a sportster that did the same thing when you turned the bars to the left. It was the wire coming off the headlight that was the problem. Electrical problems are the worst.