Replacing a Starter on a Peterbilt 387

I don't have a meter, can I just stick my tongue on it to check?

I may have to break down and buy a meter, but I don't know how to use it. I'm not saying I can't learn, it is just going to take a lot of reading.

 

Just as a general observation, there is a white wire on the starter post and a black wire on the solenoid post, which may indicate that the hot wires go to the solenoid and the ground wires to the starter, yes, I know a poster already said this. I'm trying to work it out in my own mind.

 

All the wires on the solenoid are red, except one, which has a white piece of tape on it. One of the red wires is labeled "starter," I don't know if this is from the original starter before it was converted to the starter I have on now. It looks like a factory label.

Correct my thinking if necessary, you cannot have a hot wire and a ground wire on the same terminal, right, no matter how the current flows through all the connections on the starter/solenoid. Perhaps I have found my problem, looking at everything in the daylight.

I am going to get breakfast, eat, disconnect the positive cables from the battery, move that one wire, reconnect everything and test my theory out.

 

What you have listed as the overcrank and the magnetic switch are the two special connections I don't think I could screw up. The positive solenoid connetions and the ground starter connections helps, but I have seven cables between the two terminals. Yes, I know this is where the meter comes in to test each cable. But, how do you test, when I can't hook up the batteries? Yeah, I know I am hopeless, but this is the best way to learn.

Everything, everyone is posting is getting me closer. I think I know which cable it is and I am going to test that theory in a moment.

 

Another question, there are three bolts that hold the starter on. When I took the starter off, the topmost bolt had backed out and had fallen between the engine and starter. The is no telling how long it was there, years, maybe. How do I tighten that bolt? I can barely get a couple of fingertips on it, not even my thumb. I can't get a socket wrench in there and my 5/8" star wrench will fit, but I can't turn the bolt because of a lack of room.

 

I'm going to have to get some sort of special tool. There is no wiring in the way, it is a tight fit between the starter, engine and frame. I need a bent-handle, 5/8" socket or wrench of some type. I read somewhere that Peterbilt offered on, but it was expensive.

I thought I had a fool proof plan by marking the terminal and all the cables I pulled off it with colored zip ties, I wasn't careful enough and I missed on cable than pulled away. I didn't notice it until I took off the second set of cables and I assumed. We all know what happens then and I am living proof.

After I switched that one wire and reconnected everything, it started right up. Thank you, everyone that tried to help! Other than that one bolt, I am up and running again!