Noticed a tink tink tink sound coming from my 39 Pickup

[Mart]

Good spot Mike. Glad you found it. For those that don't know, the spring loaded plunger sits behind the chamfer (red arrow) when the starter is stationary and disengaged. This stops the bendix gear floating forward and touching the moving ring gear.
On my starter the complete ring came apart from the pinion in the area indicated (green arrow). This resulted in the same problem.



Mart.