Thank you to all who replied.
I went and checked the 4 starters that I have (all "stomp" starters). One of them DOES have the smaller shaft and does "twist" as it engages. So now all I have to do is figure out when it's not meshing well with the flywheel.
It doesn't want to "engage", but if I "force" it, it will.
Then, once it's engaged, it wont fully release. Again, force will help to release.
Joe

Last edited by Joes41; 08/05/2013 10:16 AM.