Motorcycle Repair: primary, starter solenoid, jackshaft

Question
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Followup To
Question -
after installing an open primary, occasionally the jackshaft does not engage with the gear. if i take off the jackshaft support, it starts every time. the battery and starter are fresh and the alignment of the starter seems ok. when the support is off, i see that if i put 5lbs of pressure on the jackshaft (pushing it in), the same clicking noise occurs. does it sound more like a starter situation ?
Answer -
First, make sure the jackshaft is aligned properly and is not binding. If you have that correct then your starter solenoid is probably weak and needs replaced.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

there is really not much aligning you can do with a starter. put it in with the bolts loose, check clearance, tighten. the solenoids job is to push out, not pull in ,right? like i first stated, when the primary support is off, it starts every time. do you still think it is the solenoid?

Answer
Sorry, I missed the part about it working with the primary support off. If it works without the support then the starter is probably ok. When you install the support, it sounds like it is putting a bind on the jackshaft. The jackshaft must work smoothly and inline.
Mike