Ford 800 Starter Switch

[Believer]

I have one wire from the push button starter switch to a single post starter solenoid ( solenoid also has the large cables from battery and to starter motor). Is the push button connecting the solenoid coil to ground when pushed? I don't see any way it could be supplying positive 12v.

 

[Roadworthy]

Look again at the solenoid. I don't think it can have just one post. It would need one post for the large cable from the battery and another large cable to the starter. It may have only one small wire for the starter switch. Put a meter on that terminal and see if you get voltage when you press the starter button. You could also disconnect the wire from the starter button and use an ohmmeter to ground to see if it's taking that terminal to ground. Read the schematic or do a bit of troubleshooting, I'm unfamiliar with your tractor.

 

[John0829]

Fords use a solenoid that is internally hot and the starter switch provides the ground to complete the circuit, it is NOT the same solenoid as used on the cars and trucks. There was also a version with 2 small posts used on the later hundred series tractors. But I don't see many of those most just use the solenoid with a single small post

 

[K5lwq]

What John said. You can use a solenoid from early model ford cars or trucks that had two post. You just have to make a jumper wire from battery feed side to the positive post on top. Then the wire from your push button to ground. Will work the same way.