jumper wirer from batterie side of solenide to small solenide post if it spins the motor its good if not its bad (take car out of gear)

Clean the small post on the solenoid with a wire brush and make sure the wire is firmly connected. If it still doesn't work check for an open in the wire to the ignition switch.

Just sounds like a bad connection, which is way more critical in a 6V system. All contacts need to be bright and shiny. This could be a bad contact right on the ignition switch terminal.

check your neutral safety switch also if these other suggestions don't work. I believe that could prohibit the key from working but the solenoid button would override it.

In answer to your original questions: No, it's not polarity-sensitive, and yes, it's "internally grounded." Did you just paint it? If so, be sure there's some way to give it a ground connection via the starter case. For example, you could scratch the paint under one of the mounting tabs of the solenoid, and scratch the paint of the starter right where the scratched area of the solenoid tab is.

O.K., all, I've tried all suggestions and still no positive results. I'm loading up the RV & going camping/fishing. I'll be back in 2 weeks ready to tackle this puzzling problem.

regards to all

J

The 'manual button' does what the electric part of the solenoid is there for, if you're turning-over the engine while working under the hood (as all know). When you get back from your vacation and get back to the car - make sure that the starter switch is good, and that there is electricity getting to the solenoid when the starter switch is activated.

** It may well be that the solenoid has gone bad. Just because the 'manual button' works, it doesn't mean that the 'other side' (i.e., electrical action) is working/good.

Paul Schuster carries these (among others). Make sure to get the solenoid with the 'manual button' if you use that feature on a regular basis - they are a bit harder to find.