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Here's info I received elsewhere about the starter question.

I normally hear the term flat spots used more for tires, but a
starter
can develop a dead spot.

Two common things I see that could be happening to you (outside of a
battery issue)

The starter solenoid could be failing or the circuit feeding it.

The starter itself can get a dead spot or have worn brushes.  You
have
carbon brushes in the body of the starter that are held against the
commutator by spring pressure.  Here is a picture of a commutator
http://www.btinternet.com/~roland.czerny/commutator.jpg  Each of
those
pieces of copper is an individual circuit.  If one fails the starter
will be a bit weaker but you would probably never notice when it was
spinning.  If one fails and the starter happens to stop so that the
brush is against only that one circuit then the starter won't spin
next time you crank.    I don't think this is your problem though as
you normally have to do something to cause the starter to move a
little before it will work again.

As for the storage method - I agree totally. But I have lifetime
warrantee on the battery and the mufflers so it costs me zilch to get
them replaced every so often. Your points are well taken though.  I
do, however, start it up about every 3 weeks for 1/2 an hour or so and
let it idle on the drive and sometimes run it back and forth on the
driveway a bit.

I'm in Canada and they salt for no apparent reason half the time and
in my area traditionally we have snow up to the eyeballs (except for
recent winters), so I don't bother trying to run it past when I feel
comfortable in it..

I do recollect reading (probably on this group) that one way to
eliminate the leaky caliper issues on these things is to pump the
brake pedal  on them every so often during the winter. There are
probably much more rigorous regimes that could and should be applied
as you suggest. I do need a rebuild job on the brakes when I get to it
and I am sure that is the reason. I think, but am not sure, that the
pumping will eliminate the sticking of the piston and sort of
displacing the o-ring seal on it with subsequent leakage. The pitting
is something else entirely and I think is caused by electrolysis type
of effect and moisture  between dissimilar metals and I think the only
way to really fix that is stainless steel sleeves.

I do keep it in a fairly dry garage, usually above freezing, but your
points on frame preservation are well taken.

I have had the beast since new and must admit to my embarassment have
not babied it at all (but now with a teenage son eyeing it, I now wish
I had). I have a new composite spring and shocks to go into it when I
get a chance and the above noted brake job. The rest of it needs a lot
of work, but maybe I will have the time to at least make it more
presentable as I go along. Without pouring money well past the point
of no return, it will regretfully never be a showcar.  :(

regards.

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An easy check to see if your ground cable is bad is just disconnect
the negative post on the Battery and hoop a jumper cable to it and
attach the other end of the cable to the frame....

Wish I did not learn this the hard way.....

Bob G.
64 72 76 79 & 98
.