Outboard Stater Motor - Failure to Launch!

[BuilderFL]

The stater spins but not enough to engage the pinion to the flywheel and turn the motor. I have checked the 3 old months battery and even had it tested at Advance Auto Parts (shows good 12.8 vdc and with 824 CCA), the cable connections and the battery switch, also OK. Using jumper cables, bypassed the solenoid and used a remote starter...the same. Pulled the starter, cleaned it and found no broken components. The brushes, springs and magnets appeared to be in good shape with no significant wear, Bendix OK not gummy. Bench tested the starter with jumper cables and still the same. Only thing I don't know how to test is the armature, but it also looks good. Don't know if its worth spending $40 on a brush/spring Kit and then having to end up spending $250 on a new starter.
Any suggestions you guys can give me as to testing the armature or what else I can do?
Thanks!

[spareparts]

what motor? Check on amazon for a replacement, you will be suprised

[phatdaddy]

sorry builder, i just hauled a 86 150 to the scrapper and i meant to pull the starter. i didn't think about it til the next day.

i'm sure you can get it rebuilt locally,but spares right, amazon is probably cheaper

[BuilderFL]

Merc. 1988 200hp S/N OB250710

[BuilderFL]

Amazon has this:
MERCURY MERCURY MARINER Outboard Starter 115 135 150 200 225 250 HP 50-86976 NEW by DB ELECTRICAL STARTER-ALTERNATOR. for $80.90. Its such a low price that concerns me. Do we know the quality of these products?

[BuilderFL]

They look legit. Check these prices:
http://www.dbelectrical.com/