1980 35FC won't start via the ignition, please help

[Adria Haynes]

The name showing is Adria, who is my fair and lovely bride. I
hijacked her ID to ask for help and my name is John.

I'm more of a lurker than anything else, and I HAVE used the search
function and done some reading, but I still need some help very
badly. Please help if you can.

We have a 1980 35FC. The batteries are new and charged, but when you
hit the key there is nothing going on. My hots and grounds are good
at the starter, but not at the solenoid when the key is in the start
position. I was able to start it by jumping the hot over to the
solenoid and despite having just been sitting there for MONTHS, the
ole sweetie fired right up and just purred like a sewing machine.

So, I've since spoken with a few people who thought that it could be
a neutral safety switch on the trans. Remembering my dad had a
similar problem on an old motorhome he had, I used his method and
ran the shifter back and forth about 30 times in a lazy man's
attempt to gain a conection at said switch. Much to nobody's
surprise, that did not help.

I opened up the panel at nose of the bus (by my feet) and I see that
there is the most wonderful rainbow of wiring I could have ever
expected, and 3 or 4 solenoids down there as well. All those
solenoids show to be hot on all posts except for the ones that are
supposed to be ground.

The scematic, although in greek, shows fuses and circuit breakers.
I gather that the wiring in the nose is what it's referring to as
the circuit breakers, but with the key on - every one of them shows
hot as I would have expected, and I cannot for the LIFE of me locate
a fuse panel for the chassis.

As you know, there are a few fuses in the battery area, a few in the
overhead area, and I can't find any others.

So now that you know a little about what I have going on, I would
GREATLY appreciate any and all advice you kind folks could offer.

I'm told that there is a relay that comes BEFORE the starter
solenoid, but I can't seem to locate it - or even if I was staring
at it, I wouldn't know what it is. DO you know where it is and/or
how to check it?

Please don't laugh, but is there even a chassis fuse panel for me to
check a starter fuse on - or is that about as "noob" as saying that
I can't find the carburator under the hood? If there IS a fuse
panel - where, in the name of all things holy, are they hiding the
dang thing??!!

I really need to get this baby going via the key ASAP. We have
Memorial day reservations and I'd rather not have to hotwire it to
go to and from - but if it's between that and telling the wife and
kids that we aren't going camping, you know I'll be under there rain
or shine.

I'm sure that the end solution to this problem will most likely be
laughable, but until then, I really need help and it doesn't seem
very amusing just yet. Thanks in advance and I will try to reply
ASAP with any return questions that you may have for me.

Peace,
John