Starter Issues
 

How much power (amps) does the starter solenoid take on these rigs? I’m just wondering if the ignition switch on my Chevy Cummins is up to task to power it.

Background information:
The starter on my Cummins Chevy Suburban all of the sudden started making rapid clicking noises and just barely had enough power to start the engine. I got about 3 additional starts so that I was able to make it back home and then it went stone dead. Turning the ignition key to start results in nothing, not even a click. All the other electronics work normally. The battery is topped off. I pulled the starter out and had it bench tested at an auto parts store and it worked fine. I reinstalled it and it is stone dead. I'm pretty sure it's most likely a bad ignition switch.

test the alternator?

Turns out, it was the starter. I put in a brand new starter from O'Reilly's that had a lifetime warranty. Since my truck has the 6 speed manual transmission, I had to buy a starter for a 2001 Dodge. It turns over the engine so much faster than the old starter. I kept the old starter to rebuild and keep as a spare. I'm thinking, the contacts may be all that's wrong with it.

The teeth on your flywheel wernt broken that it don't catch the starter that'd what's wrong with mine but if a new starter worked then that was the problem lol