Reply To: Electric start issue

[billw]

I would start by checking every connection, of course. Then put a negative volt meter lead on the starter case and the positive meter lead on the input wire to the starter. Try to crank the engine while observing the meter. (An analog meter works best for this but a digital will work.) If it reads 9.5 volts or higher (assuming a 12 volt system) and the starter doesn’t work, the starter itself is the problem. Less than 9.5V and it doesn’t work, the problem is in the wiring, solenoid, etc.. Write back after this test and tell us the results and we can go from there. For the record, usually if you hear the solenoid click every time but the starter only works occasionally, it’s probably going to be the solenoid. Historically speaking.

Long live American manufacturing!