4 speed trans issue: kicker locked

[RexCharger]

1983 80" FX
replaced starter clutch gear last fall
worked fine til recently
after making a clutch cable and plate adjustment, kicker was "loose"; as in, the starter crank gear (the one inside the cover) was not engaging the starter clutch gear.
took the cover off, nut on crank gear seemed a little loose, tightened, and put cover back on.
now instead of loose, the kicker is locked up tighter than the proverbial drum.
doesn't matter if in gear or neutral.
had cover off and on several times, same result.
does not appear to be anything wrong with either of the gears, or anything else inside cover.

thoughts?

[SpookyCC]

If you're positive you've got the release finger and throw out bearing sitting correctly...

Shift into gear and rock the bike forward and jiggle the kicker.

[RexCharger]

yeah, tried that. a few times.

throwout bearing and release finger are fine.

got it loose, think the spring behind the starter clutch is fucked, pulling that out next