Topic: "I held a screwdriver across the solonoid and she turned over... "

[flybox1]

Quote was taken from OTTO's Thread on his sweet barn find.

What is this an indication of? 

Still learning all these tricks to diagnosing problems, and wanting to sponge all the info i can.

Thanks guys!

[Otto]

I used it as a test to determine that solonoid and battery would turn the motor over. Crossing the terminals with a screwdriver, removes the starter button fom the circuit in effect.

Bob   

[voxonda]

Correct, and so closes the circuit so the startermotor will turn over.

[750K2]

but doesn't determine the condition of the solenoid...just jumps the circut using a conductor that can withstand the high current draw of the starter motor.
good luck!

[flybox1]

So, if this is the only way to get the enging to crank, we've either got a bad starter, or a bad solenoid. Correct?

Thanks for the knowledge.

fb1

[SteveD CB500F]

Not quite.

If the engine cranks with this method, there's nothing wrong with the starter motor - you are effectively just connecting the battery to the starter motor (so don't do it for long - and use a big screwdriver!)

Next test is to short the input to the solenoid so as to replicate the action of the starter button. If the engine cranks then the button circuit is shagged. If the the motor doesn't crank, then the solenoid is the first port of call.