It sounds like your starting gear is missing some teeth. Open up the LH engine cover and have a look, there's no other way to investigate.
Also make sure that the decompression solenoid is adjusted properly. The sound when switching off might be that the piston is driven backwards on the last compression stroke. Raise the idle RPM to at least 1100RPM.
For the early Savages ('86-'90) there is an electronic schematic available ( from me, courtesy Gerd Honnacker) that you can make and which will energize the decompression solenoid when switching OFF the engine.
Let us know what you find.
Greetz
Kropatchek