Starter Motor

Series 2a 2.25 petrol engine
Hi , I think my starter motor has given up the ghost and died on me .
I can hear it spinning but does not engaging to turn the engine over .
I have removed said beast and connected it across a battery and it spins
and checked free movement of everything looks OK . I think it is one of the windings insulation has broken down does this sound correct . Is it possible to fix or better to replace ? Bye the way it starts using starting handle .

is the bendix working properly?

Yep sure sounds like the bendix to me - use some petrol to clean the spiral along which the gear on the starter shaft spins. When the motor spins the gear should fly along this spiral under its own inertia. If it is stuck a few taps with a hammer should free it, thoguh you will want to get it clean as it will be embarassing to have it stick a long way from home.

Just conceivable that the ring gear on the flywheel is broken so there is nothing for the pinion to mesh with. That's a bigger job, but on the evidence you present I suspect the motor itself is fine.

Percyatok

The bendix looked to be free to move but will have another look

test the bendix on the bench, with a spare battery and a set of jump leads.

Will try testing on the bench this weekend thanks