Starter Spins, Engine Doesn't Start

[hamlet]

I jerry rigged my throttle linkage into working again last night, but this morning my engine wouldn't start. The starter would begin to turn the engine over, starter gives up, I'd try again immediately after and the starter would spin. I think this is how it went, though the starter might not give up when the engine fails to turn over, but continue to spin. This is pretty concerning. Is it an indication that the ring gear that the starter is engaging is worn? Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[azruss]

If the starter is turning but not engaging the motor, it is probably the bendix drive. The bendix drive is activated with a plastic arm in the solenoid. This can get worn, cracked, etc. and not push the drive into the ring gear, or doesn't have enough pressure to hold it there. Usually if the ring gear is bad, it is just one or two teeth. you could pull the bell housing inspection plate and rotate the motor by hand to look at the ring gear.

[hamlet]

Interesting to hear you don't immediately think it's entirely the ring gear. Guess that's a bit of a relief. I'll check that out.

[So Cal Mark]

eventually it will be the ring gear if you continue to crank it with a bad starter drive

[hamlet]

Ring gear is the culprit here. It will be my July project to drop the transmission and bell housing, replace the fly wheel, clutch, and synchros in the transmission. After that, there won't be much to do on this car to bring it up to my satisfaction: that's the upside to all this.