I picked up a 93 GS500E a week ago.  This weekend I took it out for a ride and started getting a miss under heavy load.  When I took off the seat I noticed that a side-mounted sealed battery had been installed, and the two wires on the negative post were barely connected.  One wire is heavy gauge and solid black, and the other is the black/white ground as noted in the wiring diagrams.  My question is this - assuming these should both be connected to the negative post, what's the best way to accomplish this with the side mounted battery?

By the way, thanks to everyone who put together the wiki.  It's been extremely helpful.

That is the old "walmart sealed battery" mod.  It is difficult to get those connected well. It has been a while since I have done mine, so I'm sorry I don't remember exactly how I did it. Just dig in and give it a try. I think you have to make the connection while the battery is in place.

Snohio, you may be close. Where are you located?

I live in Ohio, assuming you do too. There are people on the board that are local and can help.

His profile indicates Columbus area. 
Quite the surge in Ohio members lately... Lucky you!

- Bboy

I've got a 1 year old GS battery you can have if you'd like. Bought it from iron pony, it has the stock terminal configuration. I'm about 15minutes out of columbus.

LOVE Iron Pony.  They have everything there.

Got it running today.  Got a battery cable terminal and clamped down till it held then heat shrinked it.  In hindsight i should have taken the cable off and soldered it, but anything had to be better than the spade connector I cut off.  The side mounted battery doesn't give a whole lot of room to work with.  I still have something in the starting circuit acting intermittently so I'm just going to have to work my way through the wiring diagram.

Thanks for the help - this probably won't be the last thread I start trying to get this bike in operating shape. 

Yes, I am in Columbus, and yes, I love me some Iron Pony.