FWIW, this area seems to be 'long time ago, when I was a boy... uphill both ways' story area. You'd get better response in the engines area or by the brand of machine.
That said, you are measuring voltage with the relay 'in circuit', which will give confusing results.
For example, with the battery connected, the button(starter) pushed, you will get 12V on the supply side of the button, and, if the relay is NOT connected, 12V on the relay or load side of the button switch. Connect the relay, and the relay uses the voltage, directly through the winding, to ground... so volts will be ZERO or close, depending on resistance of your meter and that of the winding. Disconnect the relay power side control wire, measure voltage at the wire, and you will see the 12V from the battery, fed through the button. Re-connect, disconnect the relay winding 'other end' from ground, or the relay ground mounting bolts(float the relay), and you'll see 12v on the 'out' end of the relay winding. Connect the winding end to ground, and it should flow juice, and close the relay.
If you supply 12v and the relay does not click, either it is not getting enough voltage/current(dirty connections, dirty contacts, ???) to operate the relay, the relay winding is broken, or the relay winding other end is not grounded or has a poor ground.
Some relays have two small control terminals. One would be ground, and the other the 12v from the switch. If there is only one, generally the relay mount is the ground for the winding. If it is not grounded, mounted on a painted surface, or has corrosion, relay operation will be tentative...
Separate the relay from everything so you don't get 'things' happening, and operate the control by grounding and applying 12v. If it does not click, take it apart or get another. Re-install. Test.
tom
That said, you are measuring voltage with the relay 'in circuit', which will give confusing results.
For example, with the battery connected, the button(starter) pushed, you will get 12V on the supply side of the button, and, if the relay is NOT connected, 12V on the relay or load side of the button switch. Connect the relay, and the relay uses the voltage, directly through the winding, to ground... so volts will be ZERO or close, depending on resistance of your meter and that of the winding. Disconnect the relay power side control wire, measure voltage at the wire, and you will see the 12V from the battery, fed through the button. Re-connect, disconnect the relay winding 'other end' from ground, or the relay ground mounting bolts(float the relay), and you'll see 12v on the 'out' end of the relay winding. Connect the winding end to ground, and it should flow juice, and close the relay.
If you supply 12v and the relay does not click, either it is not getting enough voltage/current(dirty connections, dirty contacts, ???) to operate the relay, the relay winding is broken, or the relay winding other end is not grounded or has a poor ground.
Some relays have two small control terminals. One would be ground, and the other the 12v from the switch. If there is only one, generally the relay mount is the ground for the winding. If it is not grounded, mounted on a painted surface, or has corrosion, relay operation will be tentative...
Separate the relay from everything so you don't get 'things' happening, and operate the control by grounding and applying 12v. If it does not click, take it apart or get another. Re-install. Test.
tom
