Ignition Switch Bad?

I'm hoping someone here may be able to help me figure this one out.

I'm having trouble getting the starter solenoid on my B (1962, positive earth) to engage with the ignition switch. When I turn the switch to start it, I get nothing; not even a dimming of the headlights like it's trying to start. All other electrical come on as they should with the switch to ‘on’ (wipers, heater fan, etc..)

I’ve double checked the wiring hook-ups at the switch. I have the solenoid wired with the hot lead from the battery to one post with the clip for the brown wire on this one as well, the cable to the starter on the other post, and the white wire with red tracer to the small isolated screw on the solenoid. Correct? Need a picture or does my inept description good enough? ;)

I am able to turn the ignition to the 'on' position and start the car using the push-button on the solenoid just fine.
This is a brand new solenoid as well as ignition switch. The regulator, however, is the original old unit.

So is this a flaw in the ignition switch, the solenoid, control box, or have I wired something wrong? I'm sure the answer lies in the 'you've done something wrong' category. ;)

I just checked the diagram for the 62 and saw no relay, did you check for voltage at the white/red wire at the solenoid? I would unhook the wire and use a test light to ground. then work the switch and see if you have power. Then work back to the switch.

With the wire off the solenoid and the test wire clip hooked to the wire and grounding at the engine grounding strap, the test light lights up when the ignition switch is turned all the way, and goes off when it rocks back to the 'run' position.

Maury, is the solenoid itself grounding? Run a jumper wire between the solenoid and a GOOD ground. Also, check that it is 12 volts at the wire that is powering up. You may just have a bad grounding of the solenoid due to paint.

To me, that means the switch is working, I would next check the solenoid to see if it is fried. By the way, are the starter connections clean?

The solenoid is brand new. I bought two from Moss, and both do the same thing. The starter contact is clean, and the solenoid DOES work with the push button and the engine starts up just fine. It's only when trying to use the ignition switch that I get nothing.

Oh, NOW we're getting somewhere Emmanuel! The solenoid has to ground? I'm going to check that. Now you see how little I know about how cars work! ;)

Yep, it all has to ground.

Emmanuel gets the cookie! I told you this would fall into the "you're an idiot' category.

Thanks!

On a side note, the wife was out there when it fired up and said, "Wow, it only took you four years to make it run!" ;)