250-500cc WR Kick Start Spring - Always replace during a rebuild!

Just thought I would pass this along. 2 years ago I rebuilt my WR 250, new rod, crank bearings, seals, etc. My kick starter worked fine so I never took the shaft apart when working on the inner parts of the motor. About a month ago it occasionally would drag when returning, sometimes sticking half way on the return.

The return spring is located deep inside with the gear box (thanks Cagiva!). Recently I went through my top end, but decided to split the cases to see whats up with the kick start. The spring end where it slides into the case was broken off, and it was jamming against the case, and also it was wound around the plastic bushing. The spring is a $3.50 part and the bushing $1.25.

The moral of the story - always replace this spring and bushing when you have the motor fully apart! Its cheap and may help prevent what happened to mine!