s3 2.25d won't turn over

Morning all,
I somehow managed to burn out the starter solenoid (I think) on my 76 s3 2.25 diesel.

There was lots of smoke and an electrical burning smell from that side of the bay when I reconnected the battery. I may have accidentally attached the negative terminal first....

I replaced the battery, cleaned all terminals and made sure that everything was off and all wires taped up. Still, absolutely nothing when I turned the key.

So I bought a brand new solenoid from Rovers North and finally managed to get it on and reconnected. I put the exhaust manifold and vacuum pipe (I think) back and then connected the battery.
Tested the battery just to be safe - all good at 12.51v - and then tried to turn it over. Nothing. Again. Not even a click. Verified that the electrics worked though - lights were good. The red 'charge' light shows when ignition is in position I or whatever it is and then goes out when I turn to the next spot on the ignotion.

@Colthebrummie suggested I connect the starter directly to the battery, which I did, but still nothing.

So what's next? What am I missing? As I mentioned in my introduce yourself post, this is my first Landy (my parents always had them) and I'm learning about car maintenance but am by no means proficient yet.

TIA!

Did you check that the main cable to the starter is ok? You could try bypassing it with a jump lead. Failing that, if there is no click from the soleoid they must have flogged you a dud.

Col

Check the exciter wire is connected and has 12v+ in the start position

You can't beat a side lamp with croc clips as a tester, quick to connect and does not care which way you connect for it to work.

Sounds like the starter motor itself is burnt out best take it off and bench test it.Solenoid on diesel throws the drive gear forward and then closes a set of contacts to power the starter motor section.
Did you get the new solenoid engaged correctly with the gear / contact thrower link?

Blackburn said:

Sounds like the starter motor itself is burnt out best take it off and bench test it.Solenoid on diesel throws the drive gear forward and then closes a set of contacts to power the starter motor section.
Did you get the new solenoid engaged correctly with the gear / contact thrower link?

Click to expand...

As above sounds like starter is the problem smoke and no crank normaly comes from main lead from battery to starter getting hot and melting the plastic casing...

So looks like the other solenoid is now the issue - workaround now in place (see new pic).
However, even with the new workaround the ignition is no longer turning over the starter. I can put a screwdriver across the two terminals and start it that way but nothing with the key.
The connections look good on the back of the ignition itself- so what should I check next while I wait for my new solenoid??

Try linking the solenoid activating contact to the battery lead that will prove the solenoid is good or bad.
If that works put a a test lamp or meter onto the activating contact and see if you get 12V when ignition turned to start position.

Silly one not mentioned yet, is the bonding strap/cable from engine block to chassis still in place and connected ?