I agree with all that for sure. If it was me, I would not mess with the starter anymore until I had the battery tested or replaced. Otherwise, in my mind, I would still not know if it was the battery or the starter. Especially if the battery didn't go to zero and the starter wouldn't crank. Never hurts to buy a battery if your battery is more than 3-4 years old or use it's proration. I am making an assumption that he rebuilt the starter and has thought of all the possibilities. May be the foot button switch, but probably not. I am strongly suspecting the battery BUT I will say it must be deader than dead if it won't even move the starter on the bench or spark when bench cable is touched to it.... or growl. But we are not there to be able to judge.
So I hope the rebuild was wired properly and something not backwards or forgotten. A 100% good battery will prove that the starter is screwed up.
As long as battery cables are GOOD/NEW and their clamp ID's are CLEAN and the battery posts are CLEAN and he is touching an unpainted part when testing.
