Starter not engaging after rebuild

[Dracitamo]

I tried doing a search, but wasn't able to find anything. Thought I'd ask here before I take it in to the mechanic to look at it to see if anyone else has had this issue.

I bought new bushings, drive, and solenoid for my starter as it was having some problems catching when going to start up.

I replaced the bushings, and solenoid, but wasn't able to figure out how to change the drive. (I think it's pressed in, but it shouldn't matter as my drive looks good anyway).
I went to go start up the jeep and it wasn't engaging at all. I changed the solenoid back to the original one and still nothing. Changed the bushings back to the original and it still won't engage.

There was a green plastic piece that goes from the solenoid to the drive. I couldn't remember which way it went in because it fell out when I removed the solenoid. I noticed a little catch on the bottom where the plastic piece from the solenoid looks like it should fit into it, but when pressed down all the way it would lift the drive up a little too far. I tried it anyway... I tried switching it the other way so the catch was on the top side.   I donno....

Any suggestions? Or should I just take it in and bite the cost?  

Edit: 97 XJ 4L Standard.

[cLAY]

Just buy a new starter and put it in. That's what a shop will do.

[Dracitamo]

Thanks for the reply cLAY.  I know that's the cheaper way to go about it, but I want to teach myself how to fix things. I like the challenge.

I figured it out, just needed a new day to tackle it. It was the drive. Changed it out, changed out the contacts on the solenoid and replaced the brushes. Works great now.

Now to tackle the fuel issue I've been having and get my lift kit in one of these weekends. Just hope work slows down enough that I can get the time to do it or I'm gonna have to take a week off so I can give the Jeep the TLC it desperately needs.

[cLAY]

That's cool. Glad you got it. Didn't want you to send it to a shop just to have a new one thrown in when you could do that yourself.  Shops don't rebuild anymore as parts are cheaper than labour.

[Waytec]

I agree that a shop is just going to change it.
 I priced out the parts to rebuild a started once and it was cheaper to buy a new one with a 5 year warranty

just for fun when you say it was not caching was it spinning and throwing the drive out or not spinning?

[Dracitamo]

It was just spinning and not throwing out the drive. (I think) Or maybe it was throwing out the drive but the drive was wrecked so it was just spinning and not engaging the flyweel to spin. With the new drive installed, it works like a charm. It's a little noisy when starting up but maybe that's the way it's supposed to actually sound when it's working properly. haha