How would I go about differentiating starter vs just the stomp switch? Good question.
1. Disconnect negative battery cable at battery.
2. Examine foot linkage operation. Does it slide pinion into flywheel gear? Does it seem to depress button fully?
3. Disconnect stomp linkage by removing cotter pin and pivot pin.
4. Remove pos batt cable from stomp switch and remove stomp switch, examine it's copper contact and it's push button operation.
5. You will see the starter copper lug on top of starter. Could be worn down or pitted. They are available. If the stomp switch or that lug seem other than in good condition, replace.
If you want to test, be sure battery is up. Key OFF.
Remove center distributor tower wire. Put in neutral, block tires, be sure truck won't move.......or start.
BE CAREFUL not to touch positive cable that is still loose from stomp switch to anything. Install neg battery cable. Now touch that pos batt cable to the copper lug on top of starter to see if starter spins. A one or two second touch. Lever will still be disconnected and pinion should not engage starter, but who knows. If it does you have in neutral, etc.
If starter spins nice, replace lug and stomp switch. No spin..... bad starter.....bad ground cable/connection.
