MF 165 diesel

I have a MF 165 with diesel, about a year ago the ignition switch went out so i've been jumping it across the terminals. Since then I tore into it and replaced starter and solenoid, Battery, and I am putting in a push button switch. I also changed ground and positive cables on bat.
I have 12V at starter, and nothing? Now it wont even crank across the terminals on solenoid?( Just clicks) Could I have a bad voltage regulator? And how do I tell? Also I changed the negative ground location on battery terminal, could I possibly not be grounding????
Thank You for any help.
A friend of mine also mentioned something about a Murphy Valve???

Murphy valve? Is that like one of Murphys laws?
Keep fixing something till it doesnt work, lol

I'm guessing a poor connection somewhere. You can have 12 volts at the starter on your tester with a bad connection but the bad connection will not conduct enough current to turn the starter. Check your voltage at starter as you try to start it. Check it on the stud, not on the cable. If it drops, you've got a bad connection. If it stays up, you've got a starter problem. A murphy switch would only shut off the fuel if oil pressure dropped. I doubt your 165 has one and if it does it wouldn't affect the starter.

I'm guessing a poor connection somewhere. You can have 12 volts at the starter on your tester with a bad connection but the bad connection will not conduct enough current to turn the starter. Check your voltage at starter as you try to start it. Check it on the stud, not on the cable. If it drops, you've got a bad connection. If it stays up, you've got a starter/solenoid problem. A murphy switch would only shut off the fuel if oil pressure dropped. I doubt your 165 has one and if it does it wouldn't affect the starter.

They were used on the Essex Tri-Directional. Sadly, Mr. Murphy never got paid any royalties for his valve.

(quoted from post at 06:48:12 06/16/21) I'm guessing a poor connection somewhere. You can have 12 volts at the starter on your tester with a bad connection but the bad connection will not conduct enough current to turn the starter. Check your voltage at starter as you try to start it. Check it on the stud, not on the cable. If it drops, you've got a bad connection. If it stays up, you've got a starter problem. A murphy switch would only shut off the fuel if oil pressure dropped. I doubt your 165 has one and if it does it wouldn't affect the starter.

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Thank you! very helpful. I was talking to a gentleman at the parts store and he told me that I may have reversed the polarity on the voltage regulator and I needed to possibly re-set it by shorting a wire across the A and B just by touching them to make a spark?

No idea whether you have an a or b
system but Don't short them like that.
You should unhook the wire.

A volt meter and a test light are required tools, otherwise you are just guessing.

Check the voltage across the battery posts. A fully charged battery should have 12.4-12.8 volts. That's a place to start. The regulator is only concerned with the charging. Unless you reversed the polarity or the generator has been disconnected for a long time, it should not need polarizing. Once you get it running, then you can check the charging system. With the engine revved up to operating speed it should have about 13-14 volts.

Where did you put the ground cable? On the engine? Be sure the cable is tight to bare metal, not over paint.

Check for battery voltage on the big stud of the solenoid. Should have voltage there al the time.

Check for voltage on the S terminal of the solenoid (if Delco) when trying to start.

Check for voltage on the tab going into the starter. If voltage between the tab and the starter case, and the starter is not spinning, there is an internal starter problem.

I see you did not mention wiring the starter switch through the neutral switch. Should be a neutral switch on top of the transmission case. Very important to put that in the circuit, could be a matter of life and death!

(quoted from post at 08:11:33 06/16/21) I
I have 12V at starter, and nothing? Now it wont even crank across the terminals on solenoid?( Just clicks)

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Make sure the starter is grounded to the engine.
Take it off and clean the end of the starter and the engine nice and shiny.

The hi/low gear shift is not in neutral?

(quoted from post at 18:49:37 06/16/21) The hi/low gear shift is not in neutral?

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Thank You! I am in question weather the neutral safety switch is working correctly. Is there one for both gear shifts?

(quoted from post at 18:49:37 06/16/21) The hi/low gear shift is not in neutral?

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Thank You! I am in question weather the neutral safety switch is working correctly. Is there one for both gear shifts?