'89 244 na wouldn't start Thursday morning. Seemed like almost dying battery, so I took the 745 to work. Jumped 244 after work and it started right up and I drove it to charge battery.

244 wouldn't start Friday morning, but I jumped it and drove it to work anyway. Ran fine. At lunchtime I went out and it wouldn't start. Turned over very slowly. But since I knew I would need a jump anyway, I kept cranking. It seemed to slowly speed up with each crank and then it did start. Drove it on some errands and left it running the whole time. Got back to work and it started right back up after I shut it off. Started right up after work. That evening, I cleaned up the connections on the battery and retightened. This morning it again did the very slow crank which slowly speeded up and finally caught (maybe in 60 seconds cranking). Again, restarted normally once warm.

Does NOT sound like battery. Never heard of one getting better with cranking. Doesn't sound like starter to me either: my experience being that they won't turn at all and then suddenly do (if you are lucky). So I'm thinking onnections/wires.

But CAN a starter just be sluggish and then speed up with some encouragement ?

Thanks in advance for what is always great advice.
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Andy '91 745 186K, '89 244 135K, '87 245 lost the rust battle at 225K mi