sbrmechanic

So i bought an 88 fc se that has sat for two years and when i tried to crank it over the starter just clicked. So i thought " ok my battery must need more charge" but thats not it at all. My buddy banged on the starter with a pry bar as i turned the key then it started working but it was extremely slow and sounded like there was grinding (this was with out spark plugs too). So i thought "oh crap the inside of my engine is complete ****" but i don't think thats the case either because i turned it over by hand and it felt very smooth and felt like it had great compression. So then i take my starter out of the trans and turn the key... NOTHING....WTF i was expecting the thing to spin like crazy but there was nothing, so is it something electrical?? sorry for the long story but i want to give insight to whats going on.

(the reason i think it is an electrical problem and not the starter is because i plugged in another starter and that one wouldn't budge either, but then again i don't know if that one works)

bumpstart

earth cable

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Bad solenoid or worn brushes.

sbrmechanic

what the heck is an earth cable

sbrmechanic

So clean up the brushes and everything around them, i can do that, how do i check to see if the solenoid works?

satch

iTrader: (1)

Earth=ground.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Generally, you don't "clean" brushes, you replace them.
Apply power and ground (or "earth", if you're oldschool British) to the solenoid and the starter will spin like a ****.
If not, you need a new solenoid.