is starter bad?

i have 93 ranger. no trouble at all until tonight. got gas and it was dead. when i turn the key over it clicks loudly at starter selonoid which is mounted on firewall and at the starter. i changed selonoid and same thing.it only clicks one time each key turn and the altemeter(?) reads 12 volts. the lights radio, etc. work fine.could it be battery terminals dirty? i tried to jump off and push off(5 speed) withno luck. beat on starter to .

You would have already fixed the problem but just like to know if this was the problem. It sounds like the starter is throwing out but not spining, i would check that all the wires are conected to the solenoied. Sometimes the conections snap off (not the lead going to the battery)

Yeah, bad starters will click.