Yes when I had a problem like you describe a jolt with a hammer or pipe on the starter would get it to catch but then even that would no longer work so after being stranded hauling it home couple of starter installs I tracked it down to a bad wire on the starter it looked good to the eye but a simple conductive test showed current was not getting thru bad end on wire that connects to starter simple 10 min. no cost repair caused me all that grief and being stranded 50 miles from home.