I have a 1996 Xplorer 300, and I can not get it to start. ... I rebuilt the engine completely, new bearings etc, this problem occured before the rebuild, but I do not have the pull cord assembly for it, it was not in the case when I got the bike.

I have a new starter and battery on it, here is my problem... you hit the starter button and the drive will engage with the flywheel and then kick back, the engine will turn possibly one rotation and then drive kicks back. The starter keeps turning but the drive is not engaged with the flywheel.

I take the spark plug out and it will stay engaged, but as soon as I put the plug back in, even one turn the drive kicks back again. I'm at a complete loss here and can not figure it out.. any suggestions? Like i said, the dirve AND starter are new ... there was some play in the crank and we thought thats what the problem was, replaced the bearings and its still doing the same thing .. any help would be appreciative

Thanks