98 GTX Ltd. starting issues

[stang69]

I would like a second or third opinion on what my issue may be. I think my starter is ready to give up but not really too sure.
My problem started (a little pun) today when I got my Sea out of storage and went to put the battery back in it. The battery only had 11.7 V so I charged it up to 12.85 V before I put it in. Hooked the water hose up to it and tried to start it. The key beeped twice and when I hit the start it just went thud with no rotation. Tried a few more times and couple of times it did nothing. Thought I would pull the plugs and see if I could turn the drive shaft and it turned very easily by hand. Put the key on and hit the start and it turned over great. I then put the plugs back in half way and after hitting the start, it would only make a quarter turn and stop. A few times the starter would just chatter (Like a Clicking sound).
I then took the starter cable off the solenoid and jumped the starter directly from the battery. It turned really slow with the plugs in half way and with the plugs in all the way it would turn a bit and stop but no chatering. Took the plugs out it turned over great again.

Some of my many questions is -
Is my starter bad?
Could it be my solenoid? (I had 12.4 V at the solenoid and when I hit the start it only went done 1/2 a volt or so)
When I put the key on it beeps twice and after the failled start, I will hit the start again and it will do nothing but a long beep while I am holding the button. I do not remember it doing it before but is this normal?
If it is my starter, do I have to remove the Mag Flywheel on the 947 engine as the manual recommends or can a person be lucky enough to engage the starter shaft in the bendix gear behind the Mag Flywheel?

Any opinions or recommendations would be great.

Thanks Darrell

 

[Bills86e]

Your battery is sulfated and has little CCA's, voltage-yes. A load test of the battery will confirm this fact. Lead acid batteries once sulfated from storage, will not just
be good again. Bills86e

 

[stang69]

Thanks Bills86E - You are the Man!
Just took the Battery out of the 97 GTS and it cranks like a Damn:hurray: Never even thought the battery would be my issue as I had replaced both batteries with new ones last July, when I put a new crank in the GTS and when I was have issues with my GTX gauge pod getting wet after flipping it. It kept blowing fuses until I took the pod apart and drained a few ounces of water from it. Never the less it was new batteries for both machines.
I did notice that one of the six cells in the battery I just took out of the GTX is completely empty. Going to try and find the receipt and take the sucker back. What may of caused this as the spot in the laundry room downstairs where I stored them this winter is completely dry.

Thanks Again Darrell