Thanks for all the help!

"If you do not want to take it off, get a long piece of wire and connect one end to the positive battery terminal. Crawl under the drivers side and remove the yellow wire from the solenoid. Leave the ground attached. Touch the test wire to the terminal. The solenoid should click, very sharp and crisp. Removing power should also yield a click as the slug is pushed back. It will not be very loud as the spring is not all that strong but it should be crisp. "

Both the solenoids I have on my driving car and parts car were almost inaudible.

The tool I got for removing the OD solenoid just strips it though.
what do u use to remove?
I was thinking a 1" crows foot with a breaker bar/ratchet after some PB treatment, that should do it.

made a portable tester before to take to a junkyard?

thanks
take care

Luke