Mechanic Question

[matt_aggie04]

I have a solenoid/starter question.  I changed the solenoid on my tractor out with one from NAPA and got it all back together and went to hook the battery up and the starter spun on contact with the terminal on the solenoid!  Confused I removed it and chalked it up as a bad solenoid and got a new one (Bosch) from JD and it does the exact same thing. So I put my thinking cap on and get my test light out. Holding just the solenoid in my hand grounding the case to the tractor and battery cable connected to the correct terminal I get voltage on the ignition switch lug and the starter tie lug. This should not be happening to my knowledge.  I even checked the solenoid/starter on another tractor and it works like it should, only voltage to the ignition terminal an starter when the ignition is engaged. I am baffled since both new solenoids are doing the same thing.  Any ideas appreciated, I think I have two bad solenoids but this has me confused. 

[charles]

 I would agree with u matt, on having to bad solenoids. it does sound strange that u getting 2 bad 1s in a row, but it could happen. I got 3 bad starters in a row 1 time for my jeep, finally the 4th starter worked fine. what about swapping positions on ing: in and starter: out terminals and seeing if that changes the current flow? it may or may not work, but it would save you a trip to town to get another 1, if from the factory, the assembler installed the internal connections in the wrong spot.

[Peachcreek]

Post a pic of the solenoid or shoot me a text matt.

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[halfbreed]

  our old 3020 was a positive ground system .  hot lead to ground neg lead to the system .