i got a redcat vx-150 quad for free.needs lots of electrical work.the harness is all hacked up.i got it for free cause the guy couldnt prove that it ran.if it helps the key switch is 3 wires,4 pin cdi,and the starter relay dont have a plug,its got a male and a female connector with the rubber boots over them.before i get a new harness and parts ,i wanna see whats good and whats not.im pretty sure i have everything but dont know where to plug anything in.nothing on the harness is marked and everything was unplugged and in a box when i got it.

 

I don't have a specific wiring diagram for your quad, but many quads are wired similarly. I think with a meter and some help any problem areas could be figured out.

The fact that it is in pieces is a pretty good indicator that this quad was a basket case. Before you go too far I would jump your quad battery to your car and short across the solenoid terminals with a screwdriver to crank the engine. (I'm assuming you'll need the jumper cables because the battery has long since gone dead, and is now ruined from sitting dead). That way you could see if the engine turns, doesn't make horrible grinding or clunking noises, and you could measure the compression. You may want to know how mechanically sound the engine is before taking on the expense and time of rebuilding the electrical system, only to find the engine is toast.

How hacked is the wiring harness? Is most of it intact? Or is it mostly twisted wires and electrical tape?

Any idea as to why the wiring harness and parts were removed?

If the old wiring harness is not to bad then I'd try to use it (repairing as necessary). Else you can order a new harness and start from there. If you're starting from scratch I'd lay the harness on the frame install any components where you know where they go. Find local connectors on the harness that reach and mate up and connect them. Before you connect up the battery power make sure that the fuse off the battery hot wire is in place with a 10 amp or less fuse installed (please - no fires!). Apply battery power, and see what works and what doesn't. Almost certainly it won't work right. You'll need a meter, then start a methodical approach one step at a time (divide and conquer):

1) Get the starter turn with a screwdriver short across the solenoid.
2) Get the starter to turn with the ignition switch, brake safety interlock and start button.
3) Get spark at the spark plug.
4) Get the kill switch circuitry working.

5) through 26) Get the quad started and running well.

27) Get the battery charge circuitry working.
28) Fix any ancillary stuff like lights, remote modules, horn etc.

Note that items 5 through 26 are lumped together with no outline. That's because I'm not very good at that part. I can do mechanical stuff, but I've little experience on actual quad mechanical repairs. With the electrical stuff I can help you. With the other stuff you may need the guidance of others.

 

the only part that was hacked up bad was the battery ends.they are cut off.theres no battery.and theres no keyswitch or front headlight or socket.at first i thought it was stolen bit i got legit papers with it.the entire harness is there just a lot of stuff wasnt plugged in(including starter selenoid,headlight socket,keyswitch)and some other stuff.that was all in box.except the headlight socket.so i dont even know where to start

 

red cat parts...........

RedCat ATV Parts - RedCatOnline.com

look at pics to compare what you got. as always, call them for questions concerning discrepancies...........

 

I got most of the wiring figured out. I figured out the 2 headlight harnesses the cdi and the selonoid. The harness that the keyswitch plugs into only has 2wires and the keyswitch itself had 3 wires. Does that sound right?

 

Usually key switches have four wires. I've never seen a 3 wire key switch, but I suppose there may be a lot of things I haven't seen.

On your wiring harness side (the two wires), what are the colors? I'm thinking that you have a DC powered CDI so that the two kill switch wires on the generic ignition switch aren't required.

So first make sure you have a 10 amp fuse in line feeding power to everything other than the starter motor (through the solenoid). If there is major wiring problem you want the fuse to blow rather than starting a fire.

Then plug in the ignition switch and turn it on. Step on the brake and try to crank the quad. What happens? Does the brake light light up? Do the headlights like up? [If you don't have a battery yet then jump the battery terminals of the quad to your car. Plus to plus, and minus to minus.]