Up date... reinstalled the starter and added the return spring from the linkage to the arm on the starter housing.. connected the battery and turned over and got it to a rough idle ! Let it run for about 5 minutes. Sure do not know how the spring came off originally but I suspect there was nothing wrong with the old starter to begin with.. it seemed that this problem began suddenly - like when the spring fell off ? Anyway much thanks to all the Stovebolt folks who stuck with me and gave such sage advice..Great web site for guys like me who are "learning as I go"!
