My LDV Convoy Ford 2.4 had a problem with the dual mass flywheel and filled the starter motor with metal dust. The DMF is now sorted and I stripped and cleaned the starter motor. It would now start the engine but the starter seemed lethargic and would not spin as fast as normal. After a few days it was too feeble to turn over the engine fast enough to start. I stripped it again, thinking some more metal powder had got in from somewhere but it was found to still be very clean inside. I put it back on the van and again it was just about starting the engine for a couple of days but then it got too slow again. I can't strip the solenoid as it's a sealed unit but I'm now wondering if the contacts inside that are burnt due to the earlier overloading when it was seized with the metal dust. I'm wondering if it would be possible to bypass the switch part of the solenoid and fit the old fashioned bulkhead mounted solenoid as used on inertia starter motors? If access was better I would try starting it with a jump lead directly from the battery to the starter but there is too much other stuff in the way.