QuestionI replaced the starter solenoid on my 76B. Now I cannot hook the battery up because when I do (keep in mind no key in ignition) the solenoid makes roaring noise. What did I do wrong? I thought the hot wire from the battery went on the lower post. Help.
AnswerHi Greg,
The starter solenoid mounted on the starter where one post of the solenoid is attached to a short tab coming out of the starter motor and the other post is for the battery cable and several brown wires.
If you engaged the piston of the solenoid correctly in the bendix arm so that when the piston is PULLED by the first magnet in the solenoid it will pull the arm which pushes the bendix gear on the starter shaft to engage the flywheel ring gear and at the same time connect the battery cable to the starter cable and it disengages the first strong magnet in the solenoid and engages a light duty second magnet in the solenoid to hold the piston in place so the starter motor can get the engine spinning to start.
There are two additional flat spade terminals on the solenoid to use for activating the solenoid and one for routing power to the ignition coil to bypass the resistor to the coil because of the reduced voltage available to the coil when the starter is operating.
The two spade connectors on the solenoid were different sizes so they would not get mixed up but some aftermarket solenoids may have both the same size.
You either did not get the piston connected correctly so it can PULL the bendix arm and it is being forced into the solenoid and activating the switch at the bottom of the bore of the solenoid, thus your noise. Or you have connected up wires wrong so it is trying to activate the solenoid prematurely.
Do this, remove the two small wires on the two small spade connectors and see if the battery cable can be attached without any sparks or noise. If it still makes sparks and noise you didn't get the solenoid piston attached correctly to the bendix arm. Or the bendix is frozen on the starter motor shaft.
Let me know what you find,
Howard
