i've had this happen before. sometimes stuff sits and binds up---darned old rust gets everywhere. usually a little cleaning and brushing and a good coat of lubriplate fixes the problem. i like that stuff, and use it a bunch--even to break in a new cam. there can be mechanical problems---like the return spring broken or the spring has lost it's springy (that's a technical term to a hillbilly) but usually return springs are pretty tough. yank it out, clean it up, and go again. then go outside and fix the starter. ooops---sorry peg. (another scolding e-mail for koolkar from the little general.
