Blood, sweat, tears & beers . . .

Yeah, but figuring out which technique works best is tricky. It's harder with a kick start, I'm finding out. Only got so many in me!Thought I had it figured out already . . . dang, couldn't find my spare slow jet - good thing I'm getting a tuner's kit from CVP.

In the meantime, I will try starting it again today.

Gonna have mid 60s today and low to mid 70s tomorrow - should be able to get in a ride or two providing I can get the beast started! Unbelievably great weather!

I got one of those old crank up phones - but I had to make some concessions going into the 21st century and got myself a "dumb" phone! Float isn't stuck and is set correctly. It might just be my technique (I haven't been consistant). But I started having this trouble when I switched to a CVP idle mixture screw. Waiting on the tuning kit and will take the carb off then and start over.

Agreed, if the stock one was working why change. I'm not knocking the EZ adjust screw but if you read on here several people have had trouble with them. You only have to adjust the carb once and your done, why does someone need an EZ adjust. But then again what I do I know, I've only got 71,000 miles on my carb.

All good advice. I think I may have fubbered the rubber o-ring - last time I saw it, it was getting pretty worn out - kind of flat and dish shaped. When my tuners kit comes, I'll just change the o-ring and put the stock mixture screw back in. If it works, I'll leave it as is. If problem persists, I'll have to take the carb off and go through it. Thanks, guys.

I don't have any spare jets, and I actually remember screwing them both in!

I couldn't wait for the tuners kit so I put the old mixture screw in. I got it to Putt-putt a couple of times, but it wouldn't run for long, maybe a second or two. I kept taking the plugs off and they always looked DRY. I'm going to check today and see if the carb is getting gas. Will also check to see if fuel is being squirted into the intake manifold. This is puzzling to me.

Is it possible the spark might be too weak going to the plugs? The bike has never started easy. Would it be better if I got a coil with more output? Would it make starting easier? I was never impressed with the small spark at the plugs.

Just pull the air cleaner and twist the throttle and you can see it squirt fuel or not. Good spark is essential for easy starting and running. If the plugs you are using have been fouled before that could be an issue also.

This bug has been dragging on way too long. Dont seem like Anything is this hard to fix.JMO,but it's gonna be something really simple that gets yiu up and running.Again JMO

Well, I changed the plugs, took off the air cleaner - I can see fuel squirting in when I twist the throttle. Enricher seems to be functioning properly - moves up about a half inch when engaged. When kicking it, I'm getting a thump once in a while, most of the time nothing. I'm kicking it with the pedal around 10 o'clock - any higher, like around 11 o'clock, and I have too much difficulty kicking it through. I always kick on the compression stroke.:gah::witsend:

I've checked everything and done everything except take the float bowl off & see if the float is stuck - but the carb is getting gas - I figure the float is alright.

How's the ignition timing?

Power is getting to coil but I think it's weak. Timing is good. I think I may go with a (double fire) coil that puts out 35,000 volts, (looks like the stock black coil for those years) - only about $60 and made in the USA. Won't hurt. All other componants in the electrical system seem to be working as they should.

Just read on the Shovelhead forum that there are basically 2 ways to kickstart a cold shovel engine.
One is: no prime, turn on key, and kick. (Mine doesn't start that way).
Two is: twist the throttle twice, then a prime kick, then turn on key and kick. Nothing is said about the enricher, but I'm assuming that it's choked when starting cold. Will go out tomorrow and try # 2 as I might be getting the sequence wrong. Duh . . . .

Something else is going on - There is a horrible sucking sound in the oil tank when kicking it - sounds like some slavering beast anticipating ripping somebody's head off! (One of the reasons I call it "the beast).I suppose it's the oil returning to the tank. It stops when the motor is running.

It's puking some oil out the breather hose, but that will settle down once it starts running. Here's a pic of the gizmo I made so the oil spray would hit the chain. Made from a short section of flat iron & welded to a large nut, screwed the hose into it, ground it round. I think it will work once I get things rolling again. The hose needed to be 2 feet long to reach. I guess I wasted $85 when I bought the engine breather/oil collector. It's pretty and it works, but you have to empty it out too often and it clogs up the filter too and leaks oil all over when it overflows.

Just went out and tried to start it, but it's cold out there - in the 40's. Feels like I'm trying to kick thru molasses. Also the battery looked low, as the tail light wasn't as bright as it usually is, so I put it on the charger/tender. Later today when it warms up some and if I have a fully charged battery, I'll try again. Right now it's lunch time. Mac the Wife is out of town today with her friend Carol. I'm gonna kick back and watch old John Wayne westerns.

Forgot to mention it, but I worked some on my seat yesterday. Built a new, longer front bracket and welded in new stantions for the springs. I was able to move the seat back another 2" toward the rear fender. Much better riding position now.