When you said it was charging. did you put the meter on, ? and what voltage showed, shudda been at least 13.8volts, . and maybe the battery is the main culprit, , it shude be a stable 12.6. ,then keep meter on it, press starter , if its goosed it will drop to around 9v
This bikes a twin aint it " if its fokked crank seals, the right hand pot will foul if sucking gear oil, this pipe will smoke more, and stinks, the left seal will suck air,[ generator side] and the idle creeps up as the engine warms,
Yeh toutsie", a good metal worker will have a press, . I took a gate to blacksmith [it was like a banana] I said make me a new one, he said I"l straighten it, well bugger me ,its like new,