Kickstart Spring Woes

[houseowax]

I guess I start every post off like this, but I feel a disclaimer is in order: I am no kind of mechanic. I have almost zero idea/talent in this arena, but I'm learning a ton thanks to you all and my Bill Silver guides.
SO:
I've been having difficulty getting my bike to run/idle consistently and have been through step after step. Some steps forward, some back. I finally got it to start, I adjusted my idle/mixture screws and got a decent idle set. After opening it up a couple of times a rather noticeable rattle began coming from what I thought sounded like the oil separator. After going through all that I decided that I might as well go ahead and remove the kickstarter arm and side case.
SO: After poking around and familiarizing myself with the inner workings I went to put the cover back on ( I will never EVER remove the kickstarter arm again if I can avoid it- that damn ball bearing!) I go to put the cover back on and the arm won't slip back on the shaft. On further inspection I see that the spring has slipped from the groove and worked it's way into the hole that fits over the kickstarter spindle.
After prying that set ring off I found that the spring does not want to budge, and I'm wary of prying around too much and stripping the fluting that fits over the spindle. I tried the other approach- removing the bolt that holds the spring in place, but to no avail.

Sorry for the longwinded post- and I hope it all makes sense. Any ideas? Anyone have this happen to them?
Please, when replying remember that I'm new to bikes and mechanics in general and impossibly dimwitted in this arena. Any explanations should be worded as if you were addressing a wrench-wielding orangutan.
Thanks everyone!

[LOUD MOUSE]

Ya need another spring as someone has messed with the end. ..............lm

I guess I start every post off like this, but I feel a disclaimer is in order: I am no kind of mechanic. I have almost zero idea/talent in this arena, but I'm learning a ton thanks to you all and my Bill Silver guides.
SO:
I've been having difficulty getting my bike to run/idle consistently and have been through step after step. Some steps forward, some back. I finally got it to start, I adjusted my idle/mixture screws and got a decent idle set. After opening it up a couple of times a rather noticeable rattle began coming from what I thought sounded like the oil separator. After going through all that I decided that I might as well go ahead and remove the kickstarter arm and side case.
SO: After poking around and familiarizing myself with the inner workings I went to put the cover back on ( I will never EVER remove the kickstarter arm again if I can avoid it- that damn ball bearing!) I go to put the cover back on and the arm won't slip back on the shaft. On further inspection I see that the spring has slipped from the groove and worked it's way into the hole that fits over the kickstarter spindle.
After prying that set ring off I found that the spring does not want to budge, and I'm wary of prying around too much and stripping the fluting that fits over the spindle. I tried the other approach- removing the bolt that holds the spring in place, but to no avail.

Sorry for the longwinded post- and I hope it all makes sense. Any ideas? Anyone have this happen to them?
Please, when replying remember that I'm new to bikes and mechanics in general and impossibly dimwitted in this arena. Any explanations should be worded as if you were addressing a wrench-wielding orangutan.
Thanks everyone!

[houseowax]

Thanks, LM.
How has the end been messed with? I've never seen one other than the one in front of me and the one in the parts diagram, and I can't see a difference between mine and the one in the parts diagram.

[LOUD MOUSE]

At the end which fits into the cast there once was a Sharp (90 deg.) bend.
Probably broke off (they do/did that) and the owner bent the end to fit into the casting.
This will cause the preload and the "kick wind" distance to change for the worst.
Ya need a good one for sure. ..............lm

Thanks, LM.
How has the end been messed with? I've never seen one other than the one in front of me and the one in the parts diagram, and I can't see a difference between mine and the one in the parts diagram.

[houseowax]

Thank you, LM- I removed it and can see what you mean. Now off to find a new one.

BTW- I saw no other way but to remove the kickstarter again and insert a dowel in there and pound it out with a hammer.. I'm gonna paint my case while everything's apart, but if anyone reads this and has some advice for getting that #$*#!* ball bearing/kickstarter assembly back on PLEASE share!!!

[greg78gs750]

a trick i used on that ball bearing is to put it in then cover it to hold it in with a narrow piece of duct tape till you get it on, then slide the tape off, viola.

greg

[LOUD MOUSE]

I put a lot of grease in the hole where the ball is located and the grease holds it in there. .....lm

a trick i used on that ball bearing is to put it in then cover it to hold it in with a narrow piece of duct tape till you get it on, then slide the tape off, viola.

greg