I have been really confused today im sure i have my wiring right...

I put on a new solenoid and put the shorter bolt to ground which is to the left of the small screw and the longer post i put the positive cable and the large wire that goes to the junction box...

Am i wrong with putting the larger wire with the battery positive cable together.

My ignition wire i screwed into the small hole...

any pictures of how it should be wired would be nice...

any time i try to connect the negative battery cable i get sparks.

i should also add that when i plug ground wire on battery the starter starts to spin without anything in the car on... is this a stuck ignition relay? or are my wires wrong

the starter gets ONLY POSITIVE WIRES
the ground is achieved through the body of the starter.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

the starter is one of the only devices on the car that is switched by positive, not negative. large positive cable goes to the large bolt that is not bolted to the motor.
small wire goes to the ignition (small wire on terminal block) and is in parallel with the blue wire to the glow plug controller.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

ok i did it right.... my starter is constantly getting current. any time i put the battery post on my starter spins but does not engage the flywheel. i put the old solenoid back on and it does the same thing.... also i can hear my glow plug relay click on the other side of the car.

See Pic, represents in general what is connected.

If the Solenoid Plunger is pushed back due to mis-installation of the Solenoid it would also crank as soon as the Battery Cable is connected.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

i took it apart and back together maybe 6 or 7 times and it keeps doing it.. is there something im missing with plunger.. they always seem a little tough to push on with the spring tension while i drive in the three screws.

I was only speculating concerning the Plunger. I would have to be there to determine if there is somthing not assembled right.
I have not had a Mercedes Starter apart; but on the Delco type Starters that work the same you need to separate the Nose of the Starter from the Body of the Starter to change the Solenoid to get the parts installed correctly.
For Me that would mean the Starter has to come off of the Car.

For testing the Solenoid and Pinion Bear/Over Riding Clutch only:
In the Picture disconnect the Circled Nut and Cable (or sometimes it is a Copper Strip); that will keep the starter from spinning.

Apply + voltage to the Terminal the Yellow Arrow points to. when you do that you should here here the Solenoid click and the Pinon Gear/Over Riding Clutch should suddenly more out. When you disconnect it the Pinion Gear should suddenly pop back into place.

If it does not do that there is something wrong.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Just gave up on the solenoid nothing i tested seemed wrong but got tired of taking the starter in and out of the car... i got very good at it... I put in a new Bosch starter and fired right up seemed like it cranked alot faster and the idle seemed healthier... maybe it was just me.

At least you tried!
Also you know it was not an issue with the Starter Wiring.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel