Thanks to several folks for the starter suggestions. I
ended up directly connecting the two terminals on the
solenoid to send power to the starter motor bypassing
the solenoid itself. The starter did start turning. So
I uninstalled it, took it back to the FLAPS and had it
tested. The starter they had just sold me failed their
bench test. They say they'll get another one tomorrow
afternoon...this time I'll bench test it before
leaving.

--- Warren Lail <wlail@OU.EDU> wrote:
> >>>>Hello,
>
> so I got a bit flamed on friday for an apparently
> bone-headed method of checking my old starter in my
> 86
> Vanagon 2.1 ...anyway, here is what I have now and,
> being a novice, I'm not sure how to interpret it:
>
> Testing my starter at the FLAPS gave intermittent
> results--it worked on the first try, but then he
> couldn't get it to fire again. It was pretty old and
> I
> decided to get a  new (rebuilt) bosch starter
> rather
> than continue to mess around. Unfortunately, I am
> still messing around.
>
> I installed the new starter yesterday. Upon turning
> the key and i can hear the fuel pump and a click of
> the solenoid but no cranking at all.
>
> My battery shows 12.6 volts. Upon turning the key I
> measure 12.6 volts at the small wire that connects
> to
> the solenoid.  Regardless of the positon of the
> ignition key, I get around 12.4 volts at the long
> terminal screw on the starter that is connected to
> the
> battery (is this normal?). With the key turned in
> the
> ignition, I get .7 volts at the shorter terminal
> screw. With out the key on, I get 0.
>
> Is the solenoid bad on my new starter?  My intuition
> says I should get 12 volts at the shorter terminal
> screw if the solenoid is sending power to the
> starter
> motor.
>
>  Any help interpreting this is appreciated,
>
> doug>>>
>
> Doug,
>
> Did you change the starter bushing when you
> installed the new starter?  If it is worn out, the
> starter may not turn over.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Warren Lail
> 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>