One other thing that I should mention is that after I installed the new starter, I went to install the jackshaft bolt and saw that the pinion gear and spring had fallen out of the coupling. I inserted the spring back into the coupling and inserted the pinion gear into the coupling and then inserted the thrust washer, lockplate and jackshaft bolt. I am hoping that nothing could have fallen out that I did not see on the ground. My repair manual shows that there is a retaining ring between the spring and coupling in the parts diagram. I did not remove the retaining ring, so should the ring still be inside the coupling?
The reason I ask is because the assembly section of the starter jackshaft in the manual
says to:
2. Place spring inside coupling
3. Insatll pinion gear on shaft
4. Place lockplate and thrust washer on bolt and insert bolt.
5. Install retaining ring (if removed), on shaft.
I don't know where on the shaft this retaining ring would go and I do not actually see a retaining ring on the shaft. Is it inside the coupling?