ok i finally got some diagnostic time....

the stomp switch is fine, diasssembled it, cleaned, checked it with a meter. i also compared it visually with another one that is way more eroded and both failed to spin the starter. the current starter is rebuilt and the copper contacts are barely used.

at one point i had the battery hooked up and had the volt meter on the switch. one porbe on the (+) lug and the other on the switch housing reading +12ish volts. i then closed the switch and voltave went to zero. to me this is more evidence the switch is fine

the starter is fine, it passed the jumper cable test

the battery ground cable measures no resistance

there are 12 ish volts between the (+) lug on top of the starter and the frame, and no measurable resistance between the frame and starter housing (the part that actually bolts to the bell housing.) i believe the engine, therefore starter, ground is fine.

i also tried using jumper cables to ground the battery directly to the frame near the motor: still no luck.

any other suggestions?

anyone concur that the switch is acquitted of wrong doing?

how about the ground cables?

thanks all for the help.... next opportunity to play is monday

-b