I appreciate the input, I'll order a starter solenoid and pull both in with the start switch.  Like the idea of the LED.  On second thought, it would be easier on the solenoid if it were pulled in first and then hit the regular start switch.

Wendell

 

Wendell,

Something to watch for when adding the extra relay.  When I first did this, and then started my engine, I noticed that the starter stayed engaged for an unusually long period of time before disengaging.  Since this was a change from before, I was puzzled and also concerned for the life of the starter and ring gear.  Here’s my conclusion as to what was happening… during the ENGINE START process, the starter (for some strange reason) was acting as a generator and self-energizing enough to keep the starter bendix engaged.  When the engine RPM’s came down, it would disengage.  Best I recall, the fix was to also run the small starter solenoid wire through the new relay (I’ll have to double-check this tonight).  Heavy cable goes through the relay also (fat terminals).

 

Mark S.