mini start motor help

I have recently got my 327 back together with a ROADSTAR brand mini starter motor (solenoid on top) ..may or not be the top shelf product but im sure with proper wiring it will be fine.
The issue i currently have is i have pulled the pinion (cog) from out the starter to align with the engines flywheel & it has stayed engaged....this is stated as 'normal' within the instructions.
I have hooked up a battery & can get the pinion to move back and forth but not crank the engine (or) then disengage.
I tried the exact same thing with a big old stock chevy starter & the thing cranked away exactly how it should. This leads me to thing the wiring is the cause of this issue...id really appreciate some help.
cheers

I've had terrible luck with mini starters. I had a Powermaster 9000 on the 350 in my T for a year before it took a dump.......never could get it to work right from the beginning. Had to shim and reshim and it still was just catching the front edge of the flexplate teeth. When it died I tossed it and bought a regular old Chevy starter and it works just like it should, the pinion comes way out and engages the entire flexplate tooth area.

Some may like em, but not me.

Don