Starter Woes

[OpHaScHiLlM]

First time I've tried to start the engine and first it made clicking sounds, tried hitting it, same thing. After i reconnected the clutch interlock bypass wires and held the switch button down, turned key, it made a horrible grinding sound of some sort like a robotic mesh up battle. Flywheel gears were ok when I put it on and I can see through the slot and they seem fine. The starter gears were a little scratched up on the ends but not bad. Battery is a new miata one.

Tested it at autozone and made the weird sound but not as loud, engaged and disengaged fine. I kept retesting it and the noise went away after a few tests. Put it back one same thing.

Question - I want to get a new KAE Hitachi starter and change the head from the sr one but can the gears in the head be the culprit or is it the main body?
Would it be better to buy a used sr starter?
I'd rather do the KAE starter method because of lifetime warranty but....anyone?

[HPKMotorsports3]

so does she turn over?

[Chrischeezer]

I had a starter solenoid go bad in a nissan quest, the starters drive wouldn't engage and spin properly because of voltage fluctuation, it had a similar girding sound and went away.

id change the whole thing

[godsmack]

ya def. sounds like the solenoid is bad on the starter. get a new starter.

[OpHaScHiLlM]

doesn't turn the engine over, it did engage and disengage during the test, not sure when its actually bolted on. so the solenoid is the likely culprit then i shouldn't incur any problems reusing the upper portion/head on the new starter?