Starter solenoid.

Last week my 67 cj5 with f134 started and ran fine. A few times in the last couple of weeks the starter would disengage while cranking so I'd turn off the key, restart and off we'd go. Today I cranked one time, she tried to fire and the nothing. No clicking, no cranking, no nothing. When I turn the key dead quiet. Tested continuity and power from ignition switch when turned to start position to solenoid and that's good. Tested power to solenoid from battery and that's good. Removed starter and solenoid and took to parts store. They bench tested by attaching positive to lead on side of solenoid and negative to starter itself and armature engaged and spun away. Reinstalled in jeep and back to nothing. Ideas?
I'm thinking solenoid even though the guy who bench tested said their machine tested both because it seems to me he actually bypassed the solenoid plunger. Seems He did not energize the plunger mechanism to complete the circuit.
Thanks for your help. BH

 

Got a good ground (strap) from engine to frame?

If so, then take a heavy jumper from the battery positive to the starter input terminal, AND/OR jump the two heavy terminals on the solenoid - see if the starter spins with the solenoid bypassed. (Have the jeep in neutral!) If so, you need a solenoid.

 

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

 

Your talking about the plunger on the solenoid? The prestolite 134 starter uses the Folo-Thru bendix vs. clutch type bendix. What starter do you have on it?

 

Replaced the solenoid this weekend and voila! We're back in business. Thanks for the help. However, when I initially crank I get an awful squeal/mashing of teeth of the starter against the flywheel. I turn off key, try again and they mesh and turn engine over just fine.
Ideas on why they are not meshing correctly the first time? Thx. ByBy

 

Maybe the bendix drive is seizing or sticky? It is supposed to have a little resilience to allow the teeth to slip into engagement