Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): STARTER SOLENOID, starter solenoid, batt cable

Question
This question is a follow inquiry to the large terminal on the solenoid and small terminal. I bought an older Murray rider with a bad starter solenoid ? Anyway , the starter solenoid does not have 1 large terminal. Both (2) terminals are the same size and also one smaller terminal on the side. Which terminal requires the positive batt. cable ? If I connect one side with the positive cable and the other terminal with the 3 other wires , 2 red and 1 yellow wire it will engage the starter with the key off. Also , changing the wires to the other terminal it reacts the same way and the key is off. Do you have any sugestions ? not wired  correctly ? Bad solenoid ? Bad key switch ? Thank you much!  

Answer
Hi Brian,

Yes you are correct, the larger two terminals are the same size.  Sorry I wasn't more specific.  Either of the two terminals can be used for the battery cable and the other for the starter cable.  The small terminal activates the solenoid (completing the circuit between the two larger terminals) when power is sent to it from the key switch, through one of the small wires.  Trace the small wires back, to see where they go.  One small wire is sometimes connected to the same larger terminal that the battery cable is connected to, to feed an accessory or the key switch.  

Let me know how you make out.
Michael