Alternator/Starter relay/Wiring Nightmare!

[EXPLORININAFORD]

This is unreal! My starter motor fried to the point that the truck almost started on fire @ a gas pump. I replaced the starter, relay and pos. battery cables. Now, my alternator (that is putting out 14 amps) is not going back to the battery. The wiring is like this: Relay-right post has power distribution box wire and pos. battery cable. Left post has other cloth covered wire(?), and cable to starter. Top small post has small red plug (ignition?). Bottom small post has red wire going to starter solenoid. I did have the alternator tested and it's putting out 14 amps, my gauge says 9 amps.
My guess is something's not hooked up right. Another thought was the alternator pigtail so I replaced that also. I'm fresh out of ideas on this. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.Thanks, and happy exploring to all.

 

[jimmiecakes]

Do you mean 14 volts?

Seems to me that there is a charging system fuse in the power distribution box (check close, my memory is just as old and feeble as I am). If not, there'll be fusible links either at the PD box or fender mounted solenoid. Look for a small section of wire that looks different from the wire it's attached to - there'll be a "knob" around the wire where they're joined. If one of these sections is "stretchy", it's blown and should be replaced with a fusible link of the same guage (solder and shrinksleeve these connections).

Another common problem I've seen is "lost" solenoid connections. These little boogers slide down out of sight and don't get put back on when the solenoid is replaced. Look for a ring terminal attached to a wire plating hide 'n' seek.