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Terry, Just under 12 volts should be enough to turn and start the engine. If you find that you can only start it with the charger on it, you have a voltage drop happening somewhere when you try to start it. I would start at the battery. Put the voltmeter on the battery terminals and watch the voltage when you try to satrt it. The volts should not drop more than a full volt when trying to start. If they drop to less than 10 volts when trying to start, but return to normal when you release the key, you likely have a battery with a dead or weak cell. The only solution, naturally, is a new battery. After this, check your battery cables and connections. With your voltmeter, check for excessive resistance between the positive battery terminal and the solenoid, and the negative battery terminal and ground. Try gently flexing the cables and repeating the ohms test. You should never get more than 50 ohms resitance in any wire or cable. Remember, corrosion can hide inside cable insulation. Beyond this, the most likely cause is the solenoid or starter itself. I've never had a Ferguson starter apart, but I would suspect they're similar to many automotive starters in that there are replaceable contacts inside. These contacts wear over time just like ignition points and usually cause the symptoms you describe. Good luck, keep us informed on what you find. Lance J
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