89 3.2 Starter gut check

[aircooled62.89]

My new to me '89 Carrera is making an awful noise at startup when cold - like the starter gear is not fully engaging the flywheel. Sometimes it just spins and nothing. It always eventually catches. I have read before the dread of the chewed up flywheel teeth, but being an '89, I had though this issue had been taking care of with a factory fix. The starter works fine when it is warmed up - not a noise and fires right away - it's only when it is cold. In my prior research the other complaints has been the opposite - nothing when cold, but trouble when warm. Before I order a the new H/torque starter, I wondered if anyone had a suggestion for trouble shooting the current starter (could old grease/gum be hindering it's action - when warm, the grease is fluid and issue goes away?) Is it serviceable for lubrication in some way?
Many thanks