kick start jumps when transmission placed in gear

[fjr48]

Hello.
I'm new to the forum and hoping you can help me with a problem with my 1965 305 Dream.
It runs and rides great,with no problem shifting up or down through the gears.
The problem is when I engage it in gear sitting still after the engine is running. The kickstart lever jumps rearward and stays there. It doesn't make any noise or cause any problems that I can detect, but it obviously isn't supposed to happen. I would appreciate any information as to what is causing this. Thank you very much for your time.

[48lesco]

48 - Welcome to the forum. One of the unwritten rules here is to add your location to your profile or no one is supposed to talk to you. But you are a fellow "48" so I will. You are correct, that isn't supposed to happen. I'd start with taking the right side cover off and checking that you have a good return spring on the kicker knuckle and that it is installed properly (see the parts diagram). You now have access to the kick shaft. Turn it clockwise to the stop and turn the engine over with a 14mm wrench. You should hear nothing. turn it a few degrees counter-clockwise and you should hear a "ratcheting" sound when you turn the motor. If that all checks out, you're in luck. If not, you probably have to split the cases to fix the starter pawl and spring mechanism. You can see that the big coil spring inside the right side cover must hold the kick shaft against the clockwise stop when the engine is running. Before you reinstall the cover, make sure to turn the kick shaft clockwise to the stop. Now, as you position the right side cover, hold the kick start lever back against spring tension at I'd say about the 11:30 position when the splines engage. This seems like it will take three hands, but you'll be able to do it. I just re-read this and I think I got all my clockwises right, so give it a shot.
-48

[fjr48]

Thank you very much for the information and the tip about putting my location on my ID. I am really green on computer skills, so I appreciate your help.