Need Help With Starter in 2000 Discovery II

[ibxsurveying]

The starter spins but does not seem to engage with the flywheel. I have removed the starter and bench tested it. It seems to work fine. It spins, moves to engage and only spins one way. The fly wheel is not missing any teeth, at least in the current position that won’t start.
I thought it could have just been a fluke so cleaned and reinstalled to no effect. It originally started taking a few turns of the ignition to get it to catch in the morning but then would start fine the rest of the day. It has progressed to the point that it takes several minutes of trying before it catches.
This is my work truck as a Land Surveyor so I need to get it figured out ASAP. Please help with any ideas.

 

[Disco Mike]

Either the bendix gear is damaged or not engaging far enough or you do in fact have teeth damage on your flex plate, there is nothing else that can cause what you are describing.

 

[greg409]

ASSuming the electrical connections are clean & tight, (you have R&R'd it)

I second what Mike said ,+ possibly the ign. switch dirty?

Did you try jumping the solenoid (small term) at the starter, thereby by-passing the ign. switch?

If it works consistently, then I'd take a hard look at the switch.

luck,greg

 

[ibxsurveying]

2000 Discovery II Video

Thanks for the replies. I wired the starter through the ignition switch and it still seemed to run. It was a tiny bit slower but that was likely due to the much lower gauge wire I used.

Please review this video of the starter and picture of the flywheel and let me know what may be going on.

Thanks again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkXrMApRNgk

 

[greg409]

It does seem almost lazy, mine was scary out on the bench.
It was very crisp & instant.

However, you say it spins in the truck, but it doesn't engage the ring gear, almost like missing teeth.

If the circuitry is weak when installed, I'm wondering if the solenoid pulls in far enough to make the end switch but not pull the gear all the way into the ring, if that's possible.

That's why I asked if you had tried jumping the solenoid terminal to the hot (at the starter)
while installed.

This would bypass several connections, including the contacts in the ign. switch.

The video is from the second removal? or had you not reinstalled it.

luck,greg