Motorcycle Repair: starter removal, drive gears, honda vt700

Question
i just bought a 1985 honda vt700 shadow. i hooked up a battery and tried to turn the engine over-all i got was a clicking in the relay.  i used a short wire to bypass the relay but still nothing but clicking.  i then put the bike on the centerstand, pulled the plugs and turned the engine by hand to check for compression-it had plenty.  my question is how do i remove the started to have it checked and possibly replaced?  i removed the bolts holding it to the block but i can't get it out with my hands.  any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   thanks for your time.

Answer
Wayne

did you check if battery voltage
was getting to the starter from
the solenoid? Use a test light.

Have you tried applying battery
power directly to the starter?

The starter goes straight in and
out, it also has an o-ring seal
on the end that might be holding
it in. Try to pull it as straight
as possible to prevent putting
strain on the starter drive
gears under the alternator cover.
The drive gear can be removed if
you take the alt side cover off.

The solenoid gets it's ground through
the clutch switch and/or neutral switch.

Starter may just be stuck from
corrosion or whatever.
You may have to gently pry
on it or tap it with a piece
of wood and a hammer.
Be careful!