Louis,
Your starter doesn't have a solenoid (relay) like modern vehicles, it has a foot switch, so there isn't any way to connect the hand held starter switch to it. Those hand held switches are not rated to carry the full current the starter needs when cranking, they are pilot duty only.
Take the foot switch off and clean the copper contacts with some fine wet/dry sand paper and make sure the arc shield is still in place.
Mike B
