The flaw in your thinking is .... two different paths of electricity.

The solenoid is just a switch.  That's the wiring circuit that's giving
you trouble.  Once the "switch" operates, the bigger cable from the
battery to the starter turns the motor just fine.

When I cleaned up the connectors and replaced the ground strap from the
transmission mount to the body, my hesitation, when trying to operate
the starter, disappeared.

Mike

Raymond Paquette wrote:
> Hey
>
> I've been reading the archives, researching posts about starting problems.
> One theme that emerges is that the wiring is old, impeding current flow to
> the starter, so check grounds and maybe put a starter relay in.
>
> My 1987 Syncro will, on occasion (more and more lately) not turn over, no
> sound from starter or solenoid.  When it does turn over, it does so
> quickly.
>
> Seems to me that if I my problem was aged wiring, the solenoid would still
> most always engage, but the starter (with it's greater draw) would not
> turn, or would turn slowly.
>
> So, I'm thinking that I have a bad starter or solenoid, rather than wiring
> problems.  (Unless, of course, my ignition switch is going bad.)
>
> Any flaws in my logic?
>
> Thanks
> Raymond
>