Need electrical help with Workmaster starter solenoid

I'm working on a friend's Workmaster that I believe is a 600.

Replaced the 6v battery with a new one and then the tractor wouldn't start. Tapping on the solenoid would get it going though so I thought easy fix.

Went to TSC and picked up a Ford 6v solenoid. Looked the same but had only one little post where the switch connects. The other post wasn't connected to anything so I figured it wouldn't matter. Put it on and nothing. I have power coming in from the battery and the ignition switch but nothing from the post to the starter.

So I just figure I got a bad one. Next day I was by NAPA and asked for a replacement showing him the old one with the two posts just to keep things the same.

Same problem. No juice coming out of the starter post. Grounds are good. Taking it off I noticed it had 12v stamped on it (didn't see anything stamped on the old one that came off but it is covered in paint too). From reading here, a 6v solenoid will engage in a 12v system but a 6v system doesn't have enough juice to operate a 12v solenoid?

I wanted to confirm this and am back to assuming the first one was a dud but am I missing anything else?

In full disclosure someone has bypassed the original push starter and wired it up to a key start years ago.

Thanks,

Well are you aware that the original
solenoid was actuated by ground thru the
safety interlock switch? Sounds like
someone changed to a normal energizing
solenoid for the key start
modifications. I would change it back to
proper as it's a simple system and has
saved many people from being run over

I'm aware it's different and not original but all that I know about this tractor is what I've read on this forum.

I'm just trying to get it running for him and back at work but will be happy to ask if he would like to convert it back to original.

How did the safety interlock system work?

The original system had a push button starter safety switch down on the top of the transmission that had a mechanical interlock with the gear shift so that it wouldn't complete the circuit and allow the starter to turn unless the gear shift was in neutral. The button looked similar to the high beam switch on the floor of most 1960's era cars. One side of the solenoid was always connected to the hot side of the battery and the starter safety switch completed the circuit to ground.

Oh OK, I saw the starter button there but didn't realize it had an interlock. Simple enough.

And I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees - after posting this morning I got to thinking that that tractor had an alternator. So after work I ran by and sure enough it does. I cleaned up the old solenoid and could see in fact where it said 12v. So lesson learned, don't assume it's still a 6v system, but I don't think I even would have had I not started out by having to replace the old 6v battery.

Question now is how has it started and run for months or years on the old 6v battery but with a new one it wouldn't start???

Oh OK, I saw the starter button there but didn't realize it had an interlock. Simple enough.

And I guess I couldn't see the forest for the trees - after posting this morning I got to thinking that that tractor had an alternator. So after work I ran by and sure enough it does. I cleaned up the old solenoid and could see in fact where it said 12v. So lesson learned, don't assume it's still a 6v system, but I don't think I even would have had I not started out by having to replace the old 6v battery.

Question now is how has it started and run for months or years on the old 6v battery but with a new one it wouldn't start???

Check if you have voltage at the small post on the solenoid if not you have the wrong solenoid.

I do when the key is turned on.