Brain,
I agree that the hot switch is worth a try. What I am not understanding are the comments that link the slow, hard crank to the solenoid.
When voltage is applied to the solenoid, it pulls in. There is an initial inrush of current, but the starter has not even started to turn yet
When the plunger reaches the end of its stroke, two things happen. It slams against the starter switch which applies voltage to the starter windings from the battery. It also drops out of its pull in circuit and uses the the same circuit as the starter winding to hold itself in. Its holding current is very minimal.
It is my feeling that Gazims solenoid is working perfectly. Every time he turns the key, the starter works. It works when hot and it works when cold.
The problem is that when his starter is hot, it doesn't have the 'ommphh' to turn the engine fast enough to start.
If the solenoid were an issue, the starter would never even turn on..the huge copper switch is at the end of the plunger stroke.
I am not trying to argue with anyone. I just need to have this thing make sense to me with the limited knowledge I have.
As I have said before, you and many others swear by it so it must do something. There must be something I don't understand about how it affects the starter.
Stuart
