I'm at my wits end. Rebuilt my 83 12a with the Atkins master kit. Had an issue where i couldn't get it started so decided to try the tow start method. Bad idea. New clutch was required after. Tore down engine again and bearings were shredded, replaced the destroyed rotor bearing and stationary gear bearings, reassembled, reinstalled, same thing as before but I'm not gonna try a tow start again.

Basically what happens now is when I turn the key the starter clicks and gives that heavy clunk noise then does nothing till i release the key and you hear everything rest. I can free spin the engine by hand without much issue and get 6 solid puffs. I followed Aaron's rebuild video both times but i finally looked up what defines chamfered the second go round.
I guess my question is does this sound like something that could be engine related to the rebuild or did my starter die when I pulled the engine the first time?

 

possibly poor terminal connections at the battery.

 

If you haven't primed the oil system yet than I would DEFINITELY suggest doing that before you try to get the first start anyway!!! Running a motor without any oil in it is a damn good way to trash it.

Pull starting a fresh rebuild sounds a LOT like you did that without any prep (i.e. - pulling the EGI fuse and cranking the motor, a lot, to get oil circulated) that is necessary before the first time the engine fires up.

 

this would also rule out potential oil pump key issues, since it sounds likely you werent getting oil pressure which is usually about the only way to trash rotating assembly bearings in these engines. pull starting a car won't simply be the cause for the bearings to be trashed, it would still build oil pressure in a short period of time though, so i assume there was a blockage issue or the oil pump wasn't doing its job.

for the starter, jump the spade terminal to the battery terminal and see if it still clunks and does not spin. if it does, your starter motor brushes are probably shot.