Weird electrical problem - sparks fly

[SharkB8]

So I haven't riden my squarenose or any ski in about 7 years. I've been busy.

sn 6m6 -> 701cc GroupK, coffman pipe

I fogged the engine when I put it away in 2011 and hoped that I would be able to slap a new battery in it and take off riding some day.

So today I got reading the X here and that gave me the jetski bug so I threw a new battery in it and started hooking up the leads. When I go to connect the second lead, sparks fly like I'm connecting them wrong. I double checked the +/- and I'm doing it correctly. The lanyard is pulled so I thought that that would ensure that there should be no draw on the battery.

It's not a tiny spark like when you jump start a car. I am damn near welding when I touch the second lead to the battery.

Any ideas?

I can't express how much I would just love to go riding and not have to tear everything apart to troubleshoot, so I'm hoping someone can make me look foolish by pointing out something obvious.

 

[Pro-pulsion]

If it was in good health when you put it away, then there are two or three typical possibilities, either corrosion has occurred inside the e-box from sealed in condensation build up or maybe the gasket leaked, corrosion from sealed in condensation inside the stator cover, or a bad voltage regulator. Sometimes they just fail. Last thought would be mouses Storage equals housing complex for mouses...I know, wrong spelling. It's supposed to be meese If the meese made home in there, start tracing wiring for chewy spots.

 

[TheBuzzard]

if it sparks big time when you hook the battery up, that means major power draw. the starter solenoid is probably allowing power from the battery to go to the starter. it should be cranking over if that was the case but if its not, the starter, Bendix or motor could be locked. like pro-pulsion said, if moisture was in the front cover, that would lock up the starter and or Bendix. grab the coupler and see if the motor rolls over. if it does, then the starter or Bendix is frozen. and like I said, the solenoid must be allowing power to the starter so you are going to have to open up the box. there is always the remote chance its the positive battery cable getting grounded between the battery and the box. GET TO WORK! and its mice you knot head LOL