by bgsengine » Sat Dec 01, 2018 11:54 am
See it regularly, usually when there's a compression release issue,or a backfire,or some such - the starter shaft and the mounting both have a bit of flex to it and can "cam out" the teeth to where they jam up. Starter bendix helix can also wear excessively to where the pinion gear won't return back down (also dirt and rust build up can jam it too) If the pinion stays jammed up after engine gets to running, that can quickly mess up a starter as well.
How poor are they who have not patience. What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? - Iago (Othello Act II, Scene 3)