Well, I found the problem so I thought I'd post it: A weak battery. I knew it was not fully charged, but I'd been doing all my testing a battery cahrger hooked up in "engine start" mode. Turns out that wasn't enough. I left the battery on the charger for awhile and it started right up.

I'm not sure why it worked fine a few times, then stopped working afer I replaced the spring I forgot, unless that added just enough extra tension to bounce the not fully energized plunger back out.

Mark

''Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools,
because they have to say something.'' - Plato

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