Modern Vespa

P125X vnx - Kick Start Lever hanging low but works otherwise. Kick start gear bad?
Because it hangs low, very limited range of movement till it hits the ground. It does spring back up but not high enough. Bike was wrecked and engine broken off but welded back together and ran with lots of tinkering. Kick start lever seemed to be canted inwards too much (shaft bent?) and I did hear some slight grinding while the engine was running. But was working fine for a long time - months. Not a worn spines problem on the lever or shaft. Both solid.

If it is the kick start gear problem, is the gear on the Xmas tree and does that come off just by removing a circlip? I know I have to split the case to do that.

The kick start gear on the xmas tree just sits there on the shaft. The only thing holding it there is a loose spring in the flyside case. Which can be removed in place if you want.

Thanks - to be clear I am talking about the small gear that the kickstart quadrant engages when it is kicked down, not the quadrant gear. So once I open the case I will be able to just pull that small gear off the Xmas tree - the gear is not under a circlip at all? I know how the quadrant comes off, easy.

The small gear will literally fall out if you take off the flywheel side case and tip it over.

Thanks so much - easy now.

It has a bad tendency to fall off when you're not looking, then hide until you've buttoned up the motor.

Ha ha! That's one I've been lucky enough not to experience, but I have left the spring out more than once.
No, it did not enhance performance by "adding lightness".

Doesn't sound like a kickstart gear issue from here. Working for months.
That gear has nothing to do with the return position of the lever.

Just reached for a straw...
Is the shock spacer installed?
https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Rear-Shocks/149871
Take a look at the grille of the flywheel cover. Rows should be parallel to the bottom of the cowl.

The shaft on the kickstart quadrant can get twisted if forced making the kickstart lever hang lower. There is a spring which pushes the kickstart gear onto a ramped gear tooth on the quadrant that holds that kickstart gear away from the X-mas tree when the lever returns. Sometimes this ramped tooth wears and doesn't hold the tooth completely off the x-mas tree and you get a clicking noise. Really bad news if the gear engages at speed.

This is definitely a thing. Happened on my Stella just from over-enthusiastic kicking. Lever augering in during a crash could do it too.

The shaft of the quadrant could be bent. That's pretty common.

A club mate has a Stella that we think the return spring is out of the socket, but the e-start works and it runs well, so he's just living with it for now.