12v - New Wire - Solenoid only clicks

• Hobby farm

Original 6-volt battery cables (1/0, thick as yer thumb) have MORE'NUFF ampacity to run yer 6-volt starter on 12-volts. And yer 6-volt 3-terminal starter solenoid had more'nuff guttz to run on 12-volts. And it is proving that by "clicking". Many neubies miss-mount the 3-terminal starter solenoid because it is eazier to mount it so the middle terminal incorrectly faces outside but it will NEVER CLICK when miss-wired.

Now then, iff'n ya gotta 4-wire NON-standard starter solenoid, all bets are OFF.

Howsomevers; just because yer new solenoid is clicking doesn't mean it is bulletproof. It could be BAD right from the factory.

You can test it 2-different ways. With a voltmeter or testlite, you should read battery volts (or lite-up) when connected between BOTH BIG solenoid studs. And when you "CLICK" yer solenoid, the meter reading should go to "ZERO" (testlite OFF). That means yer solenoid INTERNAL contacts are being "clicked together" and the solenoid is GOOD. Iff'n yer meter continues to read 12-volts (or lite stays lit) when you click yer solenoid, that means yer solenoid INTERNAL contacts are NOT being "clicked together" and the solenoid is BAD! Understand?

...OR... you can testmeter from each solenoid BIG STUD to ground. On BATT side, you should obviously read battery volts and on STARTER side, you should read ZERO volts. This is normal. Your solenoid wiring is good. Now "click" yer solenoid. You should read battery volts on BOTH sides of yer solenoid with respect to ground (testlite is lit on BOTH studs) Yer starter solenoid is good and starter motor should TURN. Understand? Iff'n you don't read battery volts on BOTH STUDS when you "clickie" yer solenoid, yer starter solenoid is BAD. or yer battery CABLES are BAD. Understand?..... respectfully, Dell

Are you sure the battery has a good charge on it?

kl