When my Benly restoration was completed in September 2012, I was looking forward to
never seeing the inside of the engine again. Rebuilding the engine was fun, but I have more fun riding the bike. However, after roughly 650 miles of riding, the kick starter failed to engage.
The bike started easily with the electric starter, but I was concerned that there could be metal parts loose in the crankcase. I certainly didn't want pieces of metal mixing with the transmission gears. That meant that the engine had to come apart.
I suspected that the ratchet pawl had come apart, or that the spring had broken. When I got the engine apart, it was obvious that the spring had simply come out of position. See the picture below, which shows the spring out of position (left), and after I put it back into the hole.
Before I reassemble the engine, I want to ensure that this spring stays in place. Any suggestions? Maybe a silicone-based sealer in the hole?