double trouble

Earlier I took the carb off and discovered a big tear in one of the intake bands (see pic). I put it all back together thinking I had it figured out. Now she actually fires a couple of times - except now she's shooting flames out the carb and then dies. I did squirt a little starting fluid in the carb, but that was earlier. The air cleaner is off and I can plainly see the flames. Holy Cow!

I'm going back after I rest up a bit and try starting it up again - without starting fluid. This time I'll take the plugs back out and clean them.

Ok, came back, cleaned the plugs, kicked it and got nothing but coughs. ^$$#^%&^*(%^#%#@$@%$^*T*^(*&$*^#^#^&%*(&(*(%^$#^#@$!@$#!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anybody wanna buy a shovelhead? Cheap!

Timing. Well, I thought I had a fire breathing dragon on my hands LOL. I went back again to try starting it. This time there were no flames, and that may have been due to using starting fluid. It doesn't backfire. When I kick it, it coughs 4 or 5 or 6 times, then dies. As far as I can tell, the timing is supposed to be spot on right now, but apparently it isn't? Yet I have used the same timing procedure I always have.

The bike ran fine with the timing set as it is now, and why it won't start now is a mystery to me .

I time it statically using the Accu-Time gizmo (see pic on page one, post #10) that locks the cam lobe in the full advance position, timing it to the front cylinder and using the vertical timing mark on the flywheel. When the test light comes on, the points just open on the narrow cam lobe. That's what it's doing now.

You fellas may remember that I notched the case and front pulley to match the vertical timing mark on the fly wheel. I think I'm gonna have to remove the J-B Weld from the outside of the timing plug (because it's totally stripped) and take it out and make sure I notched the case & pulley in the right place . . . That's the only thing I can think of right now . But I don't think that's very likely . . . another possibility is that something has gone wrong with the valve job I had done last winter. Dang boys, I'm missing some great riding weather right now and it looks like I'm gonna miss the Memorial Day weekend as well .

Cowboy, I did take the plugs out and cleaned them with some carb cleaner and rechecked the gap, too. They didn't look bad at all. One was fairly normal and the front one was a bit sooty, but not wet. The plugs are pretty new.

Nope.

Just to double check JB,but when you set the timing you had the front cylinder at TDC on compression stroke eh??Well actually approaching TDC and line up your marks....

Well, no. I go just past TDC because I'm timing the front cylinder at full advance. I turn the motor over, by hand, until the front intake pushrod goes up and just starts to come down. Then I continue to turn the motor (about a quarter turn or so) until the vertical timing mark appears in the middle of the timing hole, or in my case, until the notches I filed into the case & front pulley line up. This is the setting for advanced timing of the front cylinder.

Then I put the Accu-time thingy over the cam lobe and turn the lobe counterclockwise (advanced) as far as it will go and lock it there. (The points have already been gapped at .018"). Then with the test light in place, I turn the point plate until the points open. Done deal.

Hey shit head did ya verify that you are on compression stroke! Its a four stroke your gonna hit the timing m ark twice .pull the plug make sure your on compression stroke line up the mark as the piston comes up and the pressure is rising in the cylinder bet ya the points are off .or firing 180 off . Double check when I get frustrated I get diarea of the brain also

P.s.the shit head comment is made with brotherly love lmfao

Dang, there's no doubt about my being a sh**head ha-ha. Now that is something I hadn't considered, I forgot all about checking if it was on the compression stroke. The directions I use with the Accu-Time gizmo say NOTHING about the compression stroke! Maybe I just got lucky the last couple times when timing. I mean - the odds are 50/50, right?

I can't wait to get back to the shop and try it. And the thing is, all I had to do was stick my dang finger in the plug hole and feel for compression. Oh, I hope this works . . .

So cool . . . I had been trying to time it 180 degrees off. Now it runs like a naked ape. Of course I reset the points and repositioned the lobe on the cam shaft 180 degrees. Thanks to all who chimed in and especially Paul who finally got it through my DA that the motor must be timed on the compression stroke. I'm going for a ride into town and get some breakfast and see Tattoo.

Other things that got resolved: I put in a set of James intake rubber bands to replace the torn one. Now it starts much easier - not so many kicks. I readjusted the pushrods and now the kick function works as it should - no more "jamming" of the kick pedal. Holy Cow, it looks like I'll be able to ride over the weekend! Thanks again, my friends.

Im not taking all the credit canuk told ya to check tdc I just told ya you can hit the mark twice and you were 180 out .and called ya a shit head lmfao

I used to be a two stroke now a four stroke.


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Yes, true, but somehow it didn't register. I just wasn't putting it together that the cam turns at half speed and that the timing mark would come up twice. And only one of those times would be the compression stroke. Just got back from my ride. Tattoo, of course, had to tell me what a DA I was LOL.

Ha-ha . . . just another symptom of getting older.