Gemini XL-DD50 TT doesn't want to spin

[xplod1236]

I picked up this direct drive TT for free. When I try to start it, sometimes it spins for a sec, sometimes it doesn't. If I spin it backwards, I can feel the force of the motor for the full rotation. Spinning it forward does nothing.

Spinning it backwards until the motor turns on, the platter rotates 45 deg before the motor shuts off. I have to spin it back 45 deg to get the motor to turn on again (original turn on point); or forward another 45 deg (90 deg from previous point), and then back a touch to get the motor to turn on again. In both cases, the platter only rotates 45 deg before the motor shuts off. Letting it spin fast or slow makes no difference.

There is nothing obviously fried on the circuit board. Do I have a bad motor or driver circuit?