The kicker shaft and gear that engages 1st gear are pretty stout and they are inside the engine cases. Outside and under the cover is a spring that goes over the kicker shaft. This spring is what returns the kicker lever. It has a spacer between it and the shaft. There are four screws retaining the kicker cover. First, buy a new gasket and drain your oil. Use and IMPACT DRIVER to break the screws loose. it is pretty likely they have never been otherwise removed and will stick and you will strip the Phillips head case screws with a regular screwdriver. A hand impact driver should cost under $20 and Craftsman/Sears sells a good one. Harbor Freight drivers cost less than $10. In any case, you will get a number of bits with the driver. The HF driver gives you some long bits. I THINK a #2 bit is correct but fit the phillips head bits in the screw head for best fit. Anyway, once you have the screws out, pry the cover off... Scrape and clean the gasket mating surfaces (OH YEAH, DRAIN OIL!!!!). Then pull out the spacer and inspect the kicker spring. Is is broken? Are both of its ends in the holes they seat in? If not replace or repair. If you pull the spring off, push the kicker lever down all the way to reset it on its internal stops and put the spring in first. Put the one end in its hole and twist it counterclockwise with some pliers and seat the other end it its hole then put the spacer back in. Then you can reassemble. If that doesn't fix it, you will need to split the cases. Before you do, you will need a gasket set and I would have a new kick start assembly on hand. See eBay for that.
