Kick kick kick and it just won't run...

baldy110 wrote: If it won't fire on starter fluid then you have an ignition problem.

+1 on what baldy110 said. If the starter fluid didn't work then its unlikely the carbs. The aerosol atomized starting fluid (fuel) pretty much replaces the function of the carburetors for that brief moment. So it could be your timing, or weak spark or something else.

Does the flywheel concept I mentioned last post seem like a feasible explanation?

Have you had this bike running before? If so what all have you done, now that it won't start.

Motor Head wrote: Have you had this bike running before? If so what all have you done, now that it won't start.

I have not. A long time project.

Ok, so what have you done? motor work? Have the cam chain off? Disassemble any of the engine, or ignition?

I have not touched any of the internals whatsoever. With the exception of the carburetors, I have not messed with any of the engine parts.

The exception is when I removed the generator cover to remove a broken electric starter chain. When this happened, I carelessly budged the flywheel about a half-turn from where it was.

I am more and more suspecting that this is the problem. Thoughts?

That would have nothing to do with the engine mechanical timing or effect the ignition timing. Your carbs, you say are getting fuel. You tried starting fluid, but didn't get it to fire. But there was some Kick back, correct? Then checking that the Ignition is firing at the correct time would be a good place to start, but also verifying the engine mechanical timing and compression. Do you have a compression tester?

Hmm.

Yes, the carbs are getting fuel. And I am experiencing kick back, albeit on a somewhat inconsistent basis (sometimes it kicks all the way through cleanly, other times it kicks me back hard about halfway down).

Nada on the compression tester. I will try to get my hands on one a.s.a.p. in order to check...

Whatever the case, we are narrowing it down.

I appreciate your posts, Motor Head!

Hopefully you have a service manual for your bike, as that will help you a lot. It will show you how to test the compression, what the spec is, how to check the valve clearances, and check the ignition timing. It will also tell you how to check the mechanical engine timing,thats the relation of the crankshaft to the camshaft. Now on your bike it looks like it should have the Ignition pick-up oont he right side of the cylinder head, under a small cover. It may not be slotted where it bolts down, as they were set up by Kawasaki and not changeable without making slots. You shouldn't need to slot it either if everything is correct. If the cam to crank mechanical timing is off, then of course it will throw off the ignition. Also if the advancer assembly is on incorrectly this can mess up the timing of the ignition. So some simple checks are needed to verify. Rule out the easy stuff first.