Starter Gear damage?

[mjamusic]

Hello Folks,
I have a Mikes starter gear that was installed a month ago and I’m still having starter issues so I took it out for a look again and check spring rate (it’s 6 lbs with a fishing scale) and noticed what seems to be damage to the gear. Could some other issue be the culprit of my grinding starter issues? Thank you for your input.

 

[5twins]

That might just be poor quality Chinese manufacturing, lol. Or maybe that gear was skipped over when it got to the hardening process.

 

[mjamusic]

Would you still use it or look for a nos?