The following will work if you have the later starter where the

2 copper bolts come straight out of the front of the solenoid.

(Probably will work with the earlier one also but I haven't tried

it. On the earlier one the upper bolt comes out at a 45° upward

angle.)

Get a big, heavy screwdriver, one you are not too particular about.

With the ignition off and the car in neutral, use the tip of the

screwdriver to short FIRMLY between the two bolts, being careful

not to allow it to touch any grounded item. This should cause the

starter to crank the engine. If it does, first and every time,

you have about verified that the fault lies in the starter solenoid.

If this is the case, remove the starter from the engine.

Remove the solenoid from the starter.

Dig the potting out of the holes in the plastic cap of the

solenoid.

Unscrew the screws to remove the cap. Try to preserve the gasket.

The cap will also be held in by 3 wires soldered into two brass

grommets (actually hollow rivets) in the cap. Using a soldering iron,

melt the solder in one hole and pull the cap out on that side, then

do the same on the other hole. Put a mark next to the hole with 2 wires.

There will probably be staked washers around both bolts. With diligence

and wire cutters, vise grips or other tools these washers can be

unscrewed like nuts, releasing the 2 bolts. The heads of these bolts

are two of the contacts and all blackening and roughness should be

filed off of them. Then replace them as you found them and screw

the washers back on. Inspect the flat strip contact on the solenoid

plunger, and file off the black part and roughness on it also.

Reassemble the solenoid, soldering the wires into the holes,

then reinstall the solenoid onto the starter, being sure that

all fasteners are GOOD AND TIGHT.

Put the starter back on the engine, being careful that it is properly

seated before tightening the mounting bolts (otherwise you can break

off an ear.)

Reconnect the wires and cables tightly and you should have a new

leash on life. (arf, arf)

This can normally be done about 4 or 5 times before you have

to add some silver braze to the contacts to build them back up.