Rotary top 4 speed kickstart issue

[RexCharger]

'83 FXDG

New parts on the mainshaft:
Spring
Starter gear
Starter clutch and key
Washer
Nut

New starter crank gear on the cover

All the new parts are on, put the cover back on, and the motor kicks over.
The problem is that the kicker doesn't spring back up. It stays wherever your kick ended.
It's not disengaging, so you have to manually crank it back up (and turn the motor over backwards in the process).
Had all the parts off and back on several times, everything seems fine and functional; I have no idea what's causing it.
Any thoughts/ideas/help appreciated.

[Sky]

New gear teeth binding?
Gear ramp(s) not ramping?
Ratchet(starter clutch) spring sprung?
What about the outside spring?
Kicker shaft clocked correctly? On it's gear, at the stop, the pedal, and spring.
Starter clutch(ratchet) bushing drag?
Kick shaft binding? At bushing, at seal.
Cone bearing dragging on ratchet?
Jammed on the oil slinger or oil deflector?

[usmc50lx]

when putting it back together was the kicker arm spring wound or just installed if it was not wound or pre-loaded it will do exactly the same thing you described. My dumbass did it in a rush once and learned my lesson...