Motorcycle Repair: selenoid, screw driver, electrical switch

Question
i was installing a new selenoid on my bike, and didnt disconnect the battery and it arched. think i damaged the part. when i put a screw-driver across the leads on the selenoid it trys to start, is that the sign its fried? took a multi meter and the three wires that come out of the part, the neg. wire and the yellow wire read 12.45 volts, but the hot wire does not read?4ive3

Answer
A solenoid is just an electrical switch.  It has 12V on one of the large terminals at all times.  When you press the start button, you should get 12V on the small trigger wire, which actuates the solenoid and then you should have 12V on both large terminals; and the starter should be spinning.  Using the screwdriver you are bypassing the solenoid.

Good luck,  Jan