start solenoid won't engage

[David Anderson]

I cleaned all the terminals in the circuit and just in case added another push button hidden in the back that bypasses all the relays but the big solenoid on the starter.  I ran 8 gauge wire to a momentary push hot off the battery  cable so it will crank any time.  This will tell me a couple of things if I have to use it.  One, if there is a failure in the circuit upstream the starter, (if it starts).  If it still doesn't start then it points to the 1. starter, 2. starter solenoid on the starter, 3. batteries.

The starter is 9 years old.  It is a Dixie 39MT starter.  This was an inexpensive way to attempt a troubleshooting of the problem.

David

[bevans6]

And did it crank with your bypass switch?  (same thing I suggested with a wire jumper, but better) 

[David Anderson]

And did it crank with your bypass switch?  (same thing I suggested with a wire jumper, but better) 

yes

[Jim Blackwood]

Since that button bypasses all the safeties, you need to make darned sure it's out of gear and the parking brake is set any time you use it. It'd be a good practice to chock the wheels too, and you might label it to that effect. Otherwise bad things can happen.

Jim

[David Anderson]

Since that button bypasses all the safeties, you need to make darned sure it's out of gear and the parking brake is set any time you use it. It'd be a good practice to chock the wheels too, and you might label it to that effect. Otherwise bad things can happen.

Jim

Yep, I agree.  I hope I never need to use it.

[chessie4905]

Instead of a button, you also can use a momentary switch with a red flip cover like GM uses on the emergency stop.

[bevans6]

I'd have a two wire connector, and the actual switch would live in a tool box.  That way no possibility of it being used unless you meant it.

[chessie4905]

Get a key lock switch then. And you could use two 10 feet apart requiring two people to activate both at the same instant....sorry, just watched War Games the other night.😆

[bevans6]

It's just struck me as funny, when I was a kid I had a "tune up kit" from the hardware store, it had a cheap timing light, a meter that you could read rpm and dwell, and a bump button to clip onto the starter motor so you could turn the engine over or start it by pressing the button.  Old things become new again...  I don't even see those in garage sales any more.

[Geoff]

yes

If the additional solenoid gets the engine to start, then you have low voltage going to the start solenoid on the starter.  If I can't find the backtrack the problem, then I mount an extra solenoid like you did only I make it permanent.  Happens all the time.

[wireguy]

Never assume that just because a solenoid or relay clicks it is passing current through it. The clicking means the armature is moving but that can happen and the contacts inside aren't making contact or passing current through the contacts.

[DoubleEagle]

Don't know if you have solved your problem yet, but it simply could be a bad ground connection at the batteries. Check your voltage at the batteries, and then at each connection that leads to the starter. It happened to me once where the batteries were at 12.7 V, but when it got to the starter, it was 6V. A corroded dirty ground can rob a lot of power.

[David Anderson]

Problem is solved.  It hasn't duplicated itself since I cleaned things up.

David