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Even after replacing cables, changed starter brushes, new battery, tried new 12V solenoid from NAPA (starting one)...still not enough power to crank, just slowly, cables get hot quick. I need help please.

First of all get a voltmeter and see what the voltage is at the starter while the engine is cranking. You need to remember you are dealing with a diesel and you want it to crank over fast! You want 10.5 volts minimum while the engine is cranking measured at the starter.

If your cables are getting hot, that means that the starter is drawing LOTS of current. You need to try & see if you can wrench the motor over by hand & see how hard it is to turn. The engine could be "tight" & not as free as it should be. Water, rust, mice nests, etc can cause an engine to be tight. You've said that you have rebuilt the starter so Im guessing that that is not the issue as it would be one of the first things to check. You can bypass any other electrical components, ie: ignition switches ,solenoids,etc & try to go straight from a battery to the starter, BUT BE WARNED The transmission MUST be in neutral & the clutch disengaged & ANY valves etc in neutral as the engine could start  & the crawler could move or function.  To do it this way you really need someone in the operators seat to take control should anything happen. Good luck & keep us posted. 61BG

You do have big enough cables? Small cables wouldn't carry current good enough and would get hot. The bushings in the starter could be worn and the armeture would drag on the coils and that would cause slow cranking and take more power to turn.

Good Luck

Bob