1999 sportster - stock sound system wiring

[aaronbrooks]

Hey guys. I recently got a head unit and speakers gifted to me. I went to install and, Yay the boat was factory wired....but I can't seem to get the power and ground wires right or it's so old something is wrong in the system. Does anyone have a factory wiring diagram for a 99 ish sportster or was it wild west back then and they just threw it in?

[Bozboat]

1 hour ago, aaronbrooks said:

Hey guys. I recently got a head unit and speakers gifted to me. I went to install and, Yay the boat was factory wired....but I can't seem to get the power and ground wires right or it's so old something is wrong in the system. Does anyone have a factory wiring diagram for a 99 ish sportster or was it wild west back then and they just threw it in?

Honestly, save the headache and  just run new wires. red wire to the stereo on off switch and from the switch to the battery or battery selector switch and black wire to the negative terminal on the battery. 

[MLA]

Start from scratch, including new speaker wires. 

[solorex]

Like others have said, start completely from scratch.  I did this 10 years ago in my '97 Tantrum (very similar to your Sportster).  Wiring in these boats is dead simple.  I'd honestly recommend re-wiring the whole boat (i.e. replace the fuse panel with a bladed panel) check and re-wire the gauges.  It's worth the effort.