Second start attempt on new 88 510, and I just broke the kicker mechanism lol

iv had a couple Husky thumpers chip the small area that the prawl rides in, it has a sharp edge, and if it chips that sharp edge off, the prawl will fall out,
standard 83 and up side cover gasket will work, if your careful, you can reuse the old gasket,
they are only 12.00 a couple spares are nice to have.
the reason i said not to drain the oil out the plug hole.
the magnet may pull the prawl and spring towards the magnet, but not all the way through, if it fell , likely its sitting right at the bottom of the cover and case seam.
iv been here before, with a prawl that fell out, drianed the oil, spring stuck, but the prawl kind of creeped to the center of the case...then i took a day and a bunch of skinny grabber, magnets on a stick toys to finally get the darn thing...
had i just pulled the cover, it would have fell out in the oil drain pan.

I was thinking I might possibly get away with re-useing the gasket. I'll be careful, and we'll see how she comes apart. Will pick up atleast one spare, even if I get away with re-useing the current one.

Yeah, when you said to just pull the cover, and let the oil drain that way, I was immediately thinking the same thing. That it would help simply wash the loose parts right out into the pan. I don't particularly feel like fishing around with my telescoping magnet, or a custom magnet on a bent wire hanger, trying to get those little items out of the case.

OK man, great advise. Appreciate everyone's help. I won't get a chance tonight, but I might see if I can't pull the bike back out, and pop the cover off tomorrow. I'm real anxious now to see where I'm at, cuzz I want to ride this thing badly.

Anxious to see how much power she has, and where, and just how hard she pulls, as well as how easy it is to putt around. The sooner I get it running, the sooner I can fine tune the engine, then get on to correcting some cosmetic issues, and dialing in the suspension to perfection. Then I can start on the long overdue 500XC project.

If you still can't start after it's back together,get the TOW rope.You'll never start it trying to push it either.Trust me,if it won't start by towing it you have some other issues.

I'm afraid, if I can't start it via kick starting, my view will be that I have no place owning it. If I was well off, I'd keep it as art even then, but.....that's not the case. The last thing I want, is to risk being out in the boonies, and not being able to reliably start my own bike. Or going out to tracks, to get in on a practice session, and not being able to start it. I love it, but it's just metal and plastic/rubber, etc. Lots of ways to have fun. Still have the other bike too. If my injuries prove to much of a limitation to start any bike, I will very likely turn around and sell, to fund something more appropriate for my abilities. I fully intend to get back into having fun in the dirt. I just miss it to much, but my worse case scenario is just not doing it on a vintage oldschool mx bike. Thankfully, there are still other ways. Not quite as cool/fun, but other ways. Plus, nobody close around with a tow rope, so I'm afraid I won't really consider that an option. Might work once, just to hear it in person, but.........that's about it

If there's still an issue once I fix the starter mech. then I'll be on to confirming spark, etc. Cuzz she had fuel.

I think I'll get it, but, my injuries in the past two years have taught me one thing, don't count on everything working out like you want, and you can find satisfaction/fulfillment in alot of ways. Haven't given up yet though!