I just bought a 72 XLCH. I bought it from a kid who did not ride it (Or even start it). The kid had a 'friend' fix the kickstarter.
When I bought the bike the kickstarter spring was on backwards. So the kickstarter would not return. I did kick the bike to life when I bought it.
I put the return spring on correctly and the kickstaters returns to just above the foot peg.

I have not worked on a Harley kickstarter. I have worked on a bunch of kickstarters. Normally this is a phase thing, the position of the kickstarter shaft is in the wrong position when assembled. I have a manual coming in the mail. I may try to tackle this problem before it arrives.
Does anyone have some tips or instructions?

Thanks Sam

It looks like it was assembled 180 out. I will have to remove the primary drive to fix it. UGH!

Any pics?

Why can't you take the kicker arm off and rotate it?

You cannot rotate the kicker arm because there is a groove for the pinch bolt. The shaft has to rotate.

My shovelhead bolt grove goes all the way aroud the kicker shaft.

Reproduction shafts have the groove in all 4 locations, OEM have only one groove. It was a thing when I put a kicker on my Shovel, clocking it correctly took a lot of texts to others to get it right. Pretty much what the OP is calling phasing.

I will probably look at this late next week. Just bought a clutch spring compression tool. Does anyone have some tips when removing primary drives?