Dear Jeff;

You may have a starter with a "nose" piece that's different.
This would hold the drive unit back where it couldn't mesh.
Or a starter for a different application as M-48 suggests.

Try to get your core back & compare the two.

If it was starting okay before, the ring gear/flywheel isn't the problem.

Good luck. \:\)

John M., I.I. #3370

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going". -Anon