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Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:36 pm

1973 bus....turn key...nothing.

12.7v across battery terminals
12.6v across battery clamps
12.8v at ignition switch (I have an aftermarket switch in dash...done long ago by PO....I already have replaced with a new one)
12.4v or so at the ignition terminal on the starter solenoid
12.5v or so at the battery terminal on solenoid
Starter spins when the battery terminal is crossed to the starter terminal
solenoid does nothing when battery terminal on solenoid is crossed to ignition terminal
Could it be anything other than the solenoid?

Ant any recommendations on a non-crappy solenoid....I've received a lot of junky parts lately....

Thanks,

Rod

Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:38 pm

Cleaned every connection I could get to, by the way.

Thu Jul 13, 2017 4:39 pm

Sure sounds like the solenoid, but spend some time cleaning every cable connection and ground strap termination anyways, those are some serious voltage drops you've measured.

Thu Jul 13, 2017 5:30 pm

12.7 at the battery and 12.8 at the ignition?How can that be?

Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:49 pm

Maybe my crappy HF multimeter, or that some places are easier to reach and get a good ground....guess I should have said plus or minus. Just trying to figure out if it could be anything besides the solenoid before I do the work. The bus is parked in sort of a constricted area and getting under and out from under the bus is difficult, especially as I am not 25 years old anymore.

Rod

Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:53 pm

lil-jinx wrote: 12.7 at the battery and 12.8 at the ignition?How can that be?

10th of a volt isn't an issue here when you have 2 miles of wire.

Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:10 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: lil-jinx wrote: 12.7 at the battery and 12.8 at the ignition?How can that be?

10th of a volt isn't an issue here when you have 2 miles of wire.

That actually sounds better than most buses I end up working on :)

Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:55 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: lil-jinx wrote: 12.7 at the battery and 12.8 at the ignition?How can that be?

10th of a volt isn't an issue here when you have 2 miles of wire.

:roll: Thank you Skills. OP needs to properly learn and execute a voltage drop/loss test along this circuit, and it does seem like 2 miles.

Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:59 pm

thnx SGKent
How to fix a sticky starter FAQ

Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:26 pm

Well, it was the solenoid....thanks to everyone who had some positive input...those who didn't...I don't understand that type of attitude, I'm just a guy trying to keep my bus on the road....

Rod

Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:55 pm

Rodmullet wrote: Well, it was the solenoid....thanks to everyone who had some positive input...those who didn't...I don't understand that type of attitude,
Rod

Did I miss some shenanigans in this thread :-k nice you got the issue sorted out.

Thu Aug 24, 2017 6:59 pm

Nothing too bad...but the important thing is that I can hopefully rely on the bus to start...

Rod

Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:13 pm

Rodmullet wrote: Well, it was the solenoid....thanks to everyone who had some positive input...those who didn't...I don't understand that type of attitude, I'm just a guy trying to keep my bus on the road....

Rod

Rod, Did you replace it or fix it?

Thu Aug 24, 2017 8:15 pm

I replaced the solenoid...the old one may have been ok, when I pulled the starter off, the solenoid was missing one mounting screw and the other was loose...but it could be the original solenoid...since it was off I figured I would just replace it.

Rod