my shortened story is i needed to replace the head gaskets on my 2001 from a prior problem.  decided i was going to put new jets in the carbs which still looked clean from winter storage, put on k&n drop in filter and new spark plugs.   I've got it all back together and now it won't start   battery was fully charged.  fuel getting into bowls.  starter is cranking over.  i didn't have time to check if if the new plugs were sparking.  i need to know what i should check and in which order should i check them in.  thanks guys

No spark no workie.

Uh, check for spark first?

didn't get a chance to. i ran out of time before going to a hockey game.

i have spark and was using fresh fuel.

What size jets did you get, and how many turns out on the mixture screws? If you have fuel, spark, and air, then it's probably got something to do with your mixture: too lean or too rich.

i went off the wiki for a drop in filter and off of another post 20/62.5/140  and 3 turns out.  i think i may be getting a tiny amount of fuel in the air box also.  running stock exhaust.

Are your valves okay, and are you getting compression in both cylinders? Are the spark plugs wet? Also, try starting it without the filter and see if you can get it to turn over. If it starts without the filter, you're a bit too rich.

Quote from: supersilas on April 06, 2014, 02:22:02 PM
i went off the wiki for a drop in filter and off of another post 20/62.5/140  and 3 turns out.  i think i may be getting a tiny amount of fuel in the air box also.  running stock exhaust.

The old math used to be +2 on mains and +1 on pilots and 1 washer under needle for K&N in air box with or without pipe.
That would be 20/60/135 - assuming the same math where there are no mids.
I cant imagine the 140/62.5 will not let it start though ... you mau be rich as snot over 1/2 throttle ... but you should start. Something else could be wrong.
Yes valve clearances, ignition etc.
Cool.
Buddha.

plugs we're dry  and it wouldn't start with the filter removed.  i'm getting a compression tester today cause i'm not sure if i was doing the finger method right (as described in the manual).

Plugs dry?
Out of gas? Tried PRIME position of frame petcock?
What happens with starter fluid sprayed in the air box?

i had an test tank hooked up to petcock on prime.(above tank level because of gravity fed.) i'm going to test it again while i wait for a compression tester.

i tested my compression this morning and had gotten a zero reading on both cylinders......i'm like wtf. so i watched some tutorials and read the book again.  then i realized i may have done something horrible.  i did the timing off of the wrong tab.   now all i was thinking is that i really messed up the engine.  (did I ruin it?i tore the bike back apart this afternoon and did the timing right this time. i did another compression test before hooking carbs back up and got about 135 from both cylinders.(i know ideal range is 140-190ish)  i hooked everything back up and let it fill up with gas.  i turn it on and after a couple of chugs it fires up. i didn't let it run long though cause i couldn't get the throttle cable to return on it's own and it was giving me some smoke which looked like it may have been coming out from the breather area on top of the head. 

Questions

1.  did i ruin the engine?
2. could the smoke have been from not running all winter and or burning the cleaning and lubricating stuff? or still did something else wrong?
3. should i get new throttle cables if i didn't ruin the engine?

thanks everyone

What you mean timing it off the wrong tab ?
Cool.
Buddha.

yeah.