Starter Solenoid

I took the old solenoid apart as saw the copper plate was being ate up by the contacts. Turned it over and the same thing happened within about 50 starts. The solenoid simply couldn't handle the current, I guess.

• Hobby farm

1) A fully charged 12 volt battery ought to read near 12.6 volts across its terminals sitting there NOT running and around 13 to 14 or a lil over if the charging system is working and shes running at near wide open. If in doubt as to the batterys condition, have a shop Load test it to be sure. Be sure theres electrolyte above all the plates and that no cells have a gray or milky look and give her a good charge or try a know good battery substitute.

2) The next thing I would do is remove, clean n wire brush and reattach each n every battery and starter and solenoid and ground connection. ALL OF THEM including BOTH solenoid connections and the starter connection and the ground connection and BOTH battery terminals!!!!! !!!!! !!!!

3) NOW, If the battery is absolutely good,,,,, ,,all cables n grounds n connectiosn are all good (try to reground at a clean main frame bolt if any doubt of ground integrity, especially if shes grounded at a rusty or thin sheet metal seat box or battery compartment etc.),,,,, ,,,but she still occassionally clicks,,,,, ,,its EITHER the starter is going bad (often worn brushes or a pitted burned armature commutator segment) or the solenoid is at fault.

4) If youre careful and have good access to the starter solenoid and starter its possible to try n by pass the solenoid n jump start it by jumping around the solenoid with a jumper cable from the hot side of the solenoid (where big battery cable attaches) over to the starter side or direct to the starters post USE CAUTION THATS A HIGH CURRENT POTENTIALLY ARCING CONNECTION PLUS YOU DONT WANNA ACCIDENTALLY JUMP THE HOT CONNECTION TO FRAME GROUND. You could accomplish the same maybe safer by using one jumper cable to by pass jump over/around the solenoid (jump hot battery cable input terminal over to starter side or starter post) but have her ungrounded and use another jumper cable to make the battery to frame ground connection away from the starter and battery and not near amy source of fuel or escaping battery gasses.

OFTEN a solenoid clicking is a sign of a weak battery or a bad connection, so I suspect either of them before a bad starter or a bad solenoid. Check easy simple things first including the battery and alllll lllll connections and ground integrity.

Let us know

John T