350 starter wiring

[my85c10]

I've got an 85 C10. There are five wires at the starter. Obviously someone had pulled power for something else at the starter. There's the big lead from the battery at the large center post. Then there's a double wire that turns into a single at the starter. Then there are two other leads. I put one lead on the inboard small post and everything else on the large post. That allows the starter to crank and all other systems have power. I was trying to find TDC on #1 when changing my distributor and it cranked about four times and just started clicking. My question is: Could my wiring have done this to the solenoid, is it just a bad starter (tested good before installing), if it is the wiring can you tell me what each wire is supposed to read at the various positions of the ignition and once they check out, where do they go on the starter. I checked the wiring diagram and it's not much help.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by my85c10

I've got an 85 C10. There are five wires at the starter. Obviously someone had pulled power for something else at the starter. There's the big lead from the battery at the large center post. Then there's a double wire that turns into a single at the starter. Then there are two other leads. I put one lead on the inboard small post and everything else on the large post. That allows the starter to crank and all other systems have power. I was trying to find TDC on #1 when changing my distributor and it cranked about four times and just started clicking. My question is: Could my wiring have done this to the solenoid, is it just a bad starter (tested good before installing), if it is the wiring can you tell me what each wire is supposed to read at the various positions of the ignition and once they check out, where do they go on the starter. I checked the wiring diagram and it's not much help.

It should only have 2 wires to it (possibly 3, some run a cable from the battery to the starter, then another cable back up to the fuse block, rather than splitting off right at the battery). The two (or 3) wires go the the "B+" terminal (big one) and "S" terminal (little one from the ignition switch, hot when in "START"). After cleaning the contacting surfaces, connect only those two (or 3) wires. Run the other wires to the "+" terminal on the battery, using an inline fuse holder ($5 for the holder, fuse, and wire is a cheap way to prevent an electrical fire).

I'd guess all the other wires you put on there are creating too much of a voltage drop, not allowing it to crank. While on the topic of voltage, you checked the battery, right?

[my85c10]

Thanx, that did the trick.