There are a few things that can cause what you are seeing.
First, there's no polarity to a starter, so don't fret over that.
I think you have low voltage to the starter brushes, such that the starter is not spinning fast enough to throw the drive. 2 potential causes: Bad ground. Test using a jumper cable from engine to battery or frame. 2nd, many people will snugly tighten the nut for the cable connection at the starter without holding the inner nut. There should be an inner nut that locates the stud tighly to the commutator end plate, and keeps it inside the insulator bushing. You should hold that nut while tightening the outer nut that holds the cable. IT ISN"T EASY. If it isn't tightened that way, several things can happen. The insulator gets crushed and the brush leads ground out. The stud turns and breaks the fragile aluminum strap connection to the brushes making the connection weak or non-existant.
Bench testing wont show the bad ground, and you, like me, probably just hook the jumper wire to the post, instead of tighening the nut which would show the brush connection issue.
Check the easy stuff first.
Good luck Peter C.