Starter shorting out my battery

[canadiankush]

So my old battery shorted out and the positive terminal post melted and somehow broke? leaking battery acid.. so i disconnected my fairly new starter from the battery and it was fine, took the starter in to get a bench test and it's fine but as soon as i hook it back up it shorts out. So what's causing it to short out and melt the battery terminal post? Thanks.

 

[CAD]

Put the starter in and check the battery post and solenoid wire post from the starter to ground with a ohm meter, should be infinite. If that's ok then check battery cable and solenoid wire to ground (with both ends of wires disconnected), should be infinite also. Check full length of battery cable and solenoid wires from battery to starter as you could have a spot that has worn through and grounded itself out. If all is ok then hookup battery cable and solenoid wire to starter but not to the battery and check ohm meter again. also check all wires from fender solenoid to ground for good measure. My bet is a short in the main cable to starter if you peel back the plastic wrap on it you will probably find it. Had this same problem on an old 67 chevy PU.