Lessons learned:
1. Put a ratchet strap around the suspension to compress it before putting it back in.
This is information from a helpful commenter:
Also, the reason your starter is not working, is the pinion is supposed to pop out to engage the clutch gear. It needs some lubricant. It is froze up, and can’t pop out on starter torque alone anymore. Starter could use a rebuild too, based on its sick dry bushing sound.
It was just hard to watch and see your bearing was in backwards…knowing while watching, you would have to take it out and put it back in,
Also, there is a little ring on that bolt that holds the bottom gears in. On that ring is a locking tab, that is suppose to be bent up, to keep that bolt from loosening. You mentioned loctitie… I hope you used it.
If that bolt comes loose..(and it will without some locking method) you will be doing this all over again. (I know, it happened to me)
It might take a year or 2, but it will loosen and grind your spline shaft and chain case over again..
