1959 801 Ford 12V Conversion Wiring

I am converting my 1959 801 Ford Powermaster from 6V to 12V. I bought a new wiring harness and wired everything just like it specified according to this wiring diagram. When I push the start button nothing happens but when I bypass the start button it cranks, even without the key turned to the on position. could it be that the start button be bad? Could someone please tell me what I am doing wrong?

IRC the starter button on the Fords of that era grounded the solenoid not power it. So check and make sure you have the correct solenoid. Also the starter button is tied into the shifter rails so you can not crank it in gear. So if your setting there with the clutch down BUT the shifter in gear the starter button is not going to work.

Take both the small wires of the solenoid.
MAKE SURE THE TRACTOR IS OUT OF GEAR and the wheels are blocked.

Now the orange wire #5 in your diagram has power when the key is on.
If it has power when the key is off you have the other end hooked to the wrong place on the junction box.

Now hook this orange wire to the small post on your right as you face the solenoid.
If the tractor tries to crank at this point you have the wrong solenoid.

Now with this orange wire hooked up you should have power to both small post on the solenoid.
If you ground the other small post yellow wire #4 goes with a jumper wire the engine should crank.

Now hook the yellow wire #4 to that small post.
Try touching the other end of this wire to ground to make sure the wire is good.

Now hook this wire to the starter button on trans.
Pushing the starter button grounds this wire and cranks motor.

If the motor does not crank now your starter button is bad or it has a bad ground.

If you find the started button bad come back for more advise before you try to remove it.
The top of the trans has to come off for replacement.
If you just try to unscrew starter button the nut on the backside will fall into the trans gears.

Thank you, that is good advise. I am out of town for the next 3 days but will get back on it on Thursday and let you know how it works out.

Good evening,

I think I did all of the tests like you suggested on the last post. I hope this doesn't confuse you but I did a diagram of how I have it wired and explanations on what happens at each step. I did check with the tractor place to see if I had the correct solenoid for a 12V ford tractor.