OK. Time to jump into this discussion. This is not the stupidest thing (I'll post that a little later, you won't believe it) but it certainly was embarrasing.
I learned my 'skills' as a DIY on a '71 VW bus. Did several engine pulls/rebuilds on mine and friends. So when I got the 911 I figured this shouldn't be too hard. And it wasn't except for some 'little' differences.
Like when I had to replace the clutch after the donut blew on the back straight of Charlotte Motor Speedway at a Potomac DE. I was lucky to get a trailer ride home from one of the Potomac regulars (who let me drive his P-car back). So I have the car in the garage and drop the engine and trans as a unit, not too different from the Bus. I separate the trans and take off the flywheel to look at what was left of the pressure plate and clutch disk. Both were shot and so was the flywheel from bits that had put some gouges into it. So, simple right, just replace them and put it all back in the car. I bought a new flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, throw out bearing and installed everything back into the 911.
Turned the key and WHIRRRR, WHIRRRR, WHIRRRR (sound of starter not engaging the flywheel). To make this long story short(er) I couldn't figure out why the starter was not engaging. Everything checked out OK. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the old flywheel on the garage floor. And I noticed that the teeth that the starter engage are on a ring bolted to the flywheel. Funny, I don't remember the new flywheel coming with that ring (of course it doesn't).
Mystery solved, I forgot to transfer the ring to the new flywheel.
The car ran fine if I bump started it and since I had a DE that weekend and was out of time to do another engine drop I drove it at the DE that way. It is quite embarrasing to ask for help pushing your car at Summit Point so it will start 'cause you goofed the clutch job.
Of course the second drop was very quick.
