Starter just spins

85 CJ7 4.2L

One week the Jeep started on the first crank after sitting for 2 years in a garage. The next week I went to start it and you can hear the starter spinning but it is not making contact with the fly wheel. I pulled the starter out and checked the teeth on the starter and the fly wheel, they were perfectly fine.

I figure it is just a bad starter but before I spend the money on it I figured I'd throw it out to everyone to see if anyone has any other ideas...

I agree with it being the starter. When you turn the key, it should be energized, and the gear on the starter should move to and engage with the flywheel.

You may be able to take it apart and clean the solenoid responsible for moving the wheel.

If its spinning, and you hear it, make sure it is connecting to the fly wheel. Then make sure the fly wheel is hooked up right. I had a problem with my starter, losing a bolt. Luckily I had it in the High School garage. I havent been in HS in 11 yrs, it was a friend of a friend kinda deal. This kid just fixes stuff for me without me even asking. Anyway we found the bolt and it is good. This was on my 3rd oil pan, even this new one is dented, due to a speed bump taken to fast. This ones a hammer job, gotta save my coin for new springs that arent sagging.