Heres my problem I have a 1981 yz250 the engine will turn over fine when I push the bike while in gear. but when I try and kickstart it, the kickstart lever goes through about 10 inches (at least halfway through kicking cycle) of very sloppy freeplay and then stops completly dead. and with the kickstart lever off I can turn the kickstart shaft very easily with my fingers until I hits that dead spot and I know thats not normal. Help

Well pull the right side cover and tell us why it isn't woking. It should be pretty obvious what is wrong once you get inside.

You most likely have a broken kickstart return spring. Peices of the spring may be stuck in the kick gear. Take GMC's advice and remove the right side engine case. It will expose the kick gear.

I tore the right cover off and found it is has the wrong shaft in it,the teeth on shaft does not match the gear on clutch basket. thats what happens sometimes when you buy off of that E-site.

I am confused....
You bought a bike off ****, didn't try it out before you paid for it?

It may be the right shaft and be improperly shimmed. But, are the teeth really supposed to match the ones on the clutch basket? On my CR, the kick starter looks like it is supposed to engage the outer gear on the clutch basket. In reality, it engages an idler gear which turns another smaller gear under the clutch basket which you cannot see.

Its not the right shaft I looked at the part on yamahas parts catalog and the one I have looks totally different from the picture I already found one and bought it.