starting woes (relays?)

[tuckster]

Here's the low down. I have a '72 Jeep wagoneer with a 360 v8, th400, stock ignition and starting system.
The ignition is new, the solenoid is new.
When I turn the key, there is a small click , but the motor doesn't turn. If I cross two screw drivers over the solenoid the motor turns over. And then, after manaully starting like that I can go back to the ingnition and it will crank once, but then it does nothing the second time around.
It should be somewhere between the ignition and the solenoid, probably a wire, fuse or relay? How do I go about troubleshooting that? Thanks for the help.

[HarleyM]

I don't believe there are any relays or fuses that are the problem it sounds more like your new selonoid is bad, try a new one and see what happens is not drag out the multimeter

[Cheg]

The "small click" tells me the solenoid is moving and closing the starter circuit but that there may not be enuff juice to the motor to start it. It takes substantially more amps to turn a motor versus a solenoid.

TCheck the resistance in the cables from the battery to the starter. These are big cables and should have almost no resistance. If resistance is high you have a partial fracture in the cable. It allows enuff current to get thru to click the solenoid over, but not enuff to crank the engine

[Recurve]

Maybe check the neutral start switch.

[bluesman2a]

Bad ground would be my first bet. Make sure your solenoid is grounded and check/replace any worn, damaged, old ground straps with 2 ga or better welding cable.

Second bet would be solenoid.

[tuckster]

thanks for all the suggestions, I'll be home tomorrow and I'll see what I can find, at least now I have somewhere to start.

[BootsntheJeep]

Don't think they had neutral start switches in '72.

I'd say defeintly, replace the wire, and if the solonoid is brand new, then pull it off where it mounts on the fender, and take a grinder or a file or some sandpaper or something and get that sucker right down to bare metal and bolt it on again real good. I think that'll solve your woes.

When you're doing this, is the wire getting hot? Like you put your hand on it and you almost can't leave it there. Sure sign of a bad connection some where.

BSACACAT - (pronounced Basa-ka-kat)

Be Sure All Connections Are Clean And Tight