Motorcycle Repair: shovelhead, starter solenoid, starter relay

Question
I need to know how to check the starter solenoid. I have power from the switch to the solenoid but the plunger does not engage.  I also had to disconnect the power to the solenoid because my battery was draining so i thought that i must have short in the solenoid.  the solenoid is new ,but that seems to not matter too much these days.

Answer
There are 3 posts on the solenoid. One large one is constant hot. The other one gets hot when you hot the starter and the small one is from the starter relay. When instlling it make sure you dont have the two big wires crossed. If they are on the wrong posts the solenoid will be constant hot and will burn up the solenoid. You can check it with a test light. Only one side should be constant hot. If both are, thn your two wires are backwards. When you hot the starter button does the cold side of the solenoid get 12 volts? If not, then the solenoid is bad.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike