Starter replacement issues

[BorderBronco]

Good evening fellow Bronco brethren.
Today I replaced what looked like the original starter on our 74. Had to replace the cable from starter to solenoid as well since it was pretty frayed.
Hooked everything back up just as it was. Upon placing the negative cable back on battery the positive post and cable began to spark big. I pulled negative immediately.

Any ideas what it may be? I looked to make sure I wasn't grounding out somewhere. It has me stumped as to what could cause the sparking.

Any advice and help is greatly appreciated.

Josh?

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Starter wires backwards???

 

[dave67fd]

Remove the starter cable from solenoid, hook-up the battery. Still sparking? If not check the post on the starter. Can I assume "new" starter?
I've seen them bad right out of the box.

 

[broncnaz]

Maybe your solenoid was the issue. Solenoid could be stuck and sending power to the starter(is it trying to spin over when you hooked up the cables) or you have a wire some where else in the system that is grounded out. unhook the smaller wires off the solenoid then hook the big wire back up see if it still does it.

 

[BorderBronco]

Update: did all the checks everyone suggested. Disconnected and reconnected everything just to be sure. Nothing. Finally pulled out the battery charger to check battery level. 6%. Dead. Changed out battery and started right up. Hopefully all goes well now.

 

[Pa PITT]

.. Had you also changed the solenoid at the same time. You didn't mention changing it. But if you did change it .. Then I'm going to say you have a wrong solenoid.
... Sorry but I bet you new battery is dead in the morning.
... Let us know I'd like to hear how this turns out.
.... Also for anyone else reading this I've seen the battery cable have the hole too far from the end of the copper eyelet . Then when it was tighten up the eyelet touched the housing of the starter and causing a short. & I had one ride that required that I bend the eyelet to an L shape to keep it from touching anything. Also I have had one with about a half inch Hole in Eyelet and It needed to be 5/16. Then the eyelet move around too much when you tightened up the Starter Nut.

 

[BorderBronco]

I did replace the solenoid. Twice. If it's bad is it opening to ground and letting battery drain?
I hope it's not dead in morning. I've been looking forward to driving it for weeks now.

 

[DirtDonk]

I'd get out there in the cold with a meter and check just in case. Easy to disconnect it now and fix in the daylight, rather than have to wait for the battery to charge and hope it didn't die an early death.
And if your weather has recently turned real cold, as it has in many areas, that's also the prime time that older batteries just up n die for no apparent reason. Just old age...

Paul

 

[BorderBronco]

It fired right on up this morning. No hesitation. I will meter it here soon to double check.