Wired as shown in the picture it looks like if you put
that red cable on the battery you simply had a direct
short from the positive side of the battery to the
negative. I think the PO was using the red cable as a
ground cable.
Here's a picture of the standard hookup as done at the fatory on
all AD trucks:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/121749014Here's how your battery should be hooked up:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/153983976I'd clean that up by taking the red cable out and throwing it
into the corner of the garage. The battery should have a short
ground strap from it's negative post down to the frame right
behind the battery box. From the positive post of the battery
that black cable should thread it's way directly to the post on
the starter switch. The short ground strap bolted to the back
of the engine (the bell housing) returns to the battery thru
the frame. When the normally open spring loaded button on the
starter switch is depressed it completes the circuit, that's all
there is to the starter circuit.
I would first start by removing the other wires from the starter
switch to see if the start circuit alone is working properly.
Then go from there to trouble shoot the rest of it.
dg
