41 Chrysler C28 Starter Problem

[Guest fustydad]

My car always started but has been sitting since May. I think I need a starter solenoid but I'm not sure. I removed the starter and solenoid after doing some electrical checks on the wiring and replaced some old wires. I'm not good with electrical and I tried testing the solenoid by putting the + and - of my jumper cables on the two small studs on the solenoid causing the points to close. Otherwise, I get no reaction to any hookup that I try but I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly. Any ideas? Thanks

[jazzer3]

fustydad, I may be wrong but I would hook positive cable to the starter case(ground), negative to the heavy stud that would be farthest from the engine, then take junk screwdriver and with it against the outside heavy stud touch the small post directly above it. I think the inside heavy stud takes current into the starter motor and the inside small stud is only live with the solenoid engaged, for the choke. This is my experience from working on a 48 and 50 Chrysler both with four studs on the solenoid. It may only take a strategically whack with a deadblow and if you are doing it on a work bench be careful if it kicks in it could spin out of your grasp and end up on the floor. Now I'm no electrical engineer and your solenoid may be different from the 48 or 50 but good luck.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jay