i have a good working rebuilt starter that doesn't seem to reach the flywheel and mesh with the teeth to get it to crank over? any suggestions?

 

That sounds pretty weird, are the starterss identical, is the bendix endd of the starter throwing the gear to the ring gear on the flywheel ?????

 

Yes, it is very weird. I've had the starter tested and everything looks good. I've verified that it's the right starter; and, it's identical to the old one. Completely lost.

 

If you are installing it correctly;
1)and it is the right starter then it is not working
2) or it is working properly then it is the wrong starter.

The possibility exists that the starter wasn't your problem in the first place.

I personally don't trust rebuilt parts. Or the people who sell them, not that they are inherently dishonest, just generally undertrained.