Those ones needed the engine to fire in order to kick the bendix back in. When you crank it,it snaps out, when engine fires, it kicks it back in. So if it was cranked and didnt fire, it would still be in the engaged position.
Make sense?
a wooden dowel and a small hammer will return it, just have to rotate it the other way..
at least those drives are serviceable. Well, they used to be....