I don't know anyone who bought a geared high torque starter for their Healey and wishes they didn't. Mine got rid of similar starting issues. Make sure the ground cable from the starter body to the frame is clean and tight and that the wiring from the solenoid on the firewall to the starter is in proper condition. The original starters weren't so great to begin with but if everything is sorted they shold work. Worn brushes, dirty commutator are also possibilities.
Hey, I had the starter rebuilt. The thing was turning but way too slow. Should spin like a high speed drill and the bendix needs to come back, (crash type).
about a inch to engage.
Next problem is that the starter will kick over the engine fine but the second the engine fires it kicks out the bendix gear. Then I get the buzz sound of the thing turning but not engaged.
I had checked before the rebuild the ring gear to starter gear gap, 5/32" which is within tolerances.
Anyways I don't see a way to adjust the gap, the ring gear and starter gears look perfect.
Any ideas on this? Thanks for your input. Dave Walsh