Starter/solenoid help

[BrianVT]

No starter action. Bought a new solenoid (4-pole). No action.
If I put my booster pack to the small solenoid poles it clicks and opens the circuit and the starter turns the engine.
If I connect my multimeter to the wire coming from the key switch and turn the key to crank my meter reads 12.6v
If I connect that wire to the solenoid I get no click. The solenoid does nothing.
If I run a new ground wire from the other small solenoid pole to an engine bolt I still get no action.
If I place my multimeter in place of that new ground wire and turn the key it reads 12.6v
What now?

 

[wn6ngp]

connect your voltmeter wires across that small solenoid. Turn key to start. How many volts do you get? Should be about 12v. I suspect that you have a high resistance somewhere maybe switch or wires/connectors going to your key switch or poor ground connection(s) on solenoid.

 

[BrianVT]

Thanks for the reply.
Meter was reading 12.6v but the solenoid switch wouldn't click.
A friend had me rig a 12v lamp to see if it would light it. Nope.
He says the meter can read voltage even if the wire is too damaged to carry current. "Ghost voltage" he called it.
I ran a new wire from the neutral safety switch to the solenoid and it fired.

 

[wn6ngp]

Your friend is correct. never heard it called ghost but I can understand why he would say that. There is a poor connection or high resistance somewhere in that wire that goes to your start switch. Sounds like you are very close to solving the problem. hook up the light and measure the voltage right on either side of the start switch. That might be physically difficult to get at but that's what you need to do to trace out the problem.

 

[BrianVT]

Yup. Got the bulb lit after the safety switch when I cranked the key.
I didn't see anything mechanical between there and the solenoid so I figured it must be the wire so I ran a new wire and all is good with that.
Now to working on the remote cables. ;-(