Before condemning the starter, let me ask: Have you physically checked the GROUND cable (battery negative) where it connects to the frame (or the engine in some cases) to be certain that the trouble is not just a loose or corroded ground attachment point?
People often omit to check the ground side of the battery cable, but the ground is equally important as the "hot side".
And, if the battery negative cable connects to the frame, you also must check the engine mounting bolts that fasten the engine to the frame, loose fasteners here can cause grounding problems too.

14 gauge wire????? that is far too small to run the starter, but it should have at least produced some sparks when you jumped it as you described (IF.....everything else was good).

Your trouble sounds more like it is a problem with low voltage or a bad ground.
If all else was good (except the starter) you should be hear the solenoid activate but without the starter turning.

I have a step by step test procedure IF you would like it. Address below, put in proper format and remind me.

Walt Conner
wconner5 at frontier dot com

thanks will check it out the #14 wire was just to see any response. the ground was freshly re attached when the new solenoid installed .