bringing this posting back up to the top since I have the exact same problem...
Today I was trying to start my 1955 235ci (12V) with a foot-stomp starter, although it's still in the chassis. I don't have a wiring harness installed yet so I did a similar thing as John and connected the negative cable from the batter to the engine block and the positive battery cable to the switch on the starter - nothing. The pedal would engage the starter gear with the flywheel, but it appeared as no power was getting to the starter to make it spin (no hum, no movement at all). I tried a few different spots for a ground and cleaned all the areas I tried. I also pulled off the starter button like John and touched the positive battery wire directly to the contact on top of the starter (usually hidden under the switch) - nothing. Tomorrow I will pull the starter out and bench test it, but is there anything I'm overlooking before I do this? Also, if I find that the starter doesn't work in the bench test what is the best way to pull it apart and what should I clean? Years ago (6 years +/-) this was a working starter and was able to start the engine fine, since then I've removed it to clean and then paint the outside of the starter, maybe dirt or something got in it? The engine does spin freely and I can spin it by hand.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
