Starter issues

[lj-rubi]

Had an intermittent starting issue, did a search and read the troubleshooting sticky and other posts which were very helpful. Here's the short version: did the troubleshooting and it seemed that I had a bad solenoid. Replaced solenoid (eBay continuous duty made by Chinese children) and still had no juice to starter. Bad solenoid? Jumped the small terminals directly from battery, turned right over. Connected ground side of circuit from harness and jumped positive side from battery, no go. Grounded negative side directly to battery, left ground side of harness disconnected, connected posi side of harness, spun but wouldn't fire. Connected both sides of circuit from harness and left the jumper directly from negative battery post, and it cranked right up. Ground side circuit tested fine with multimeter for continuity but it won't turn over without the additional ground to the battery??

Here's the other issue: after it started a couple of times in a row, it was suddenly dead again: started would not turn over (but solenoid does click). Manually rotated the starter pulley a little and it started right up. Repeated this several times with same result. Is that definitely a starter brush/armature issue or could it be not enough amps to the starter, i.e. bad cable connections?

Thanks guys, I know this is routine troubleshooting for some of you and I really did try to use the search function before posting!!

[sho305]

Low battery just makes the starter go slow, it will stop at compression but you will see what it is doing. Brushes can be replaced they can stop at any place suddenly and not work. Ground problems are common check all the ground cables/wires where they bolt on, fuse holders, battery clamps this is very common for them and connectors to go bad with age. Remember all grounds are wires not frame/etc.

You want those kids on China to eat right? LOL! Sometimes hard to find anything else.