TD5 Starter grief

After the cold snap, had occaisonal starting trouble, changed the ageing battery and it wouldn't go at all!!
Searched and found the threads on starter trouble, ordered the bits on the web and went out to remove the starter...... how hard can it be??

Two hours on that top nut!!!! ... had to cut down a half inch drive socket in length, weld it to a bolt to get round the flange and then juggle socket extensions to get behind the motor but avoid all else.

Anyway now washed the crud off and there is another hopefully minor issue come to light, the solenoid had a rubber tube sticking out of it which has been burgered by oil contamination...... anyone know if its important????

not major but does help stop water geting in happy to see you had fun with the top bolt been there and done it

Is that wading type water or just evreyday weather I wonder?? Can I get a replacement without buying the whole shooting match??...
I should say that as a regular Land Rover Nut, but a one fingered computer keyboard operator..... thanks to all you guys that chew over and record the day to day grief so that mere mortals can tune in and get a lead on the problems that occur; There are some of us that find it a godsend. Particularly, I am sure, those of us that feel a bit isolated from the rest of the regular LR owning world.