Spectre won't start. Did after work. Won't now.

Thanks for the link!! Awesome price.

Unfortunately when I went to order them: "Temp. Out of Stock. Call for details"

Turns out Z1 has no way to tell when they will be back in stock. There isn't consistency on lead time from the vendor. Apologized and said it could be weeks, sometimes in situations like this its been months. Tried to talk me into the Dyna's, but I told him I'd really have to think it over due to the price.

Gonna shop around a bit and see what I can find, even if it doesn't fit my frame exactly but will work... can always "make it fit".

If it really comes down to it: New coils for the bike and Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich dinners for the next month.

You will want new coils, but I don't necessarily think that is what's wrong with your starting issue if you have spark.

Completely agree. Don't think it's the starting issue....

Butttt, just said screw it and charged some Dyna coils and wires. So, we'll see what happens in a couple of days.

Bought some Dyna 3ohm coils and wires... Fired right up. Strongest, most consistent starts since I bought the bike. Bright solid sparks from the plugs. Glad I gave in and bought them. Fitting them under the tank took some ingenuity, but eventually figured something out.

Now I can't seem to dial in the idle. A constant back and forth between the pilot mixture screws, the choke, and the lower idle screw.

I can get it warmed up to the point I can cut the choke. Keep it around 2,000-2,500 rpms, but can't get it any lower with out it dropping and dieing.

Stock Pilots are turned out about 2 turns each.

Any ideas ?

Thanks.

Among other things, too tight valve clearances can cause the reported symptoms.

Good Fortune!

So I just did a compression test... Doesn't look good:

All numbers are averages.
1: 80
2: 53
3: 10
4: 80

After a squirt of oil in each:
1: 100
2: 65
3: 48
4: 113

Feel like a dumbass for not checking the compression sooner.

Rings?

Hopefully, not burned valves, can be $$$$$ if burned, and the valve seats damaged. On these type engines, as the valves wear & move closer to the cams, the clearance decreases, requiring thinner, and thinner shims. Some shops may need to reduce the valve stem length, to get clearance, but the choices are limited in doing this kind of work.

A leak down test injects air pressure through the spark plug hole to pressurize the combustion chamber.

Can perform a poor man's leak down test by introducing compressed air into a spark plug hole and listening to where it escapes from the combustion clamber. This may be done at TDC or any other cam positions where both valves are fully closed. Top dead center (TDC) is when the piston is at its highest position. An easy way to tell TDC is by alignment of the T mark with the case mark when viewed through the timing window.

May introduce a spurt of compressed air by using a rubber cone-tip blow gun (rubber air nozzle) held into the spark plug hole. And of course keep holding it in position to keep air from coming back out the spark plug hole while listening for escaping air at other places. The air compressor should not be running while listening because the noise will likely drown out any sound of escaping air. Or just use a portable compressed air tank.

Air heard escaping from exhaust port indicates exhaust valve not fully closing (perhaps too tight clearance or damaged valve or valve seat).

Air heard escaping from carb intake indicates intake valve not fully closing (perhaps too tight clearance or damaged valve or valve seat).

Air heard escaping from crankcase breather indicates loss of compression past rings into crankcase (perhaps worn piston rings or cylinders).

Air heard escaping from head gasket area indicates indicates loss of compression past head gasket (perhaps due to a blown head gasket).

A leaking valve may sometimes be resolved by adjusting the clearance to within specs.

A leaking head gasket may sometimes be resolved by torquing the head fasteners when the engine is stone cold (such as after sitting overnight).

Good Fortune!

Thanks Mfolks and Patton..

As soon as it's below 90 degrees here I'm going to do the cheap man's leak down test. I'll let you know what I find.