lexa 300 hs-p kick lever does not fully depress occasionally

[Stevejonny]

Got a free kick lever spring and drive shaft bearing from Daiwa (surprised??? yeah me too).  Old beat up lexa has been on sidelines for couple years so I thought to revive it.  Just serviced the reel.  Occasionally i go to depress thumb bar/kick level and I can feel it does not fully reach the bottom where you feel and hear a "click" of disengaging spool.  i just turn the handle a little and then the kick lever depresses correctly.  IDK.  my 400 does this too rarely though so I excuse it.  I have a $30 Abu Garcia baitcaster and it has NEVER had this problem. The issue is not new, in fact its been this way from the beginning.  I thought the issue would go away when I replaced the drive shaft bearing ( it had exploded basically ).  it didn't.   The yoke is not worn and is greased.  Its almost like the pinion gear is hitting the drive gear part way up which makes sense that if I turn the handle a little it works.  ideas?