Professionally clean and rebuilt carb..cant start

Ok...I have an 82 Kz550c LTD and I just got the carbs professionally cleaned and rebuilt. I installed them on my bike and I cant get bike to start whatso ever now. I dont know what is going on. When i try and start occasionally it will back fire from exhaust or the out the airbox. I don't want to spend anymore money than i have to just to get this thing started. Its starting to get a little bit nicer in Fort Wayne, IN and I wanna ride. Has anyone had this problem before and what did you do to fix this issue. If you need any more information from me please feel free to ask. I just want my bike to start!! Thank you so much for taking the time to try and help me.

If the sync is way out it might not start easy try a blast of starting fluid to get it to start, then sync the carbs.

But first things first, have you checked the valve clearances? Lou "loudvhx" has the info on the tk22 carbs and valve train warning you want to look at

With it being out of sync would that cause the backfires out the exhaust and airbox? I've tried starting it so much that I now have to wait for the battery to charge back up again.

Out of sync/out of time, not enough fuel (plugged pilot jets) could do it, although I am sure a pro job would bench sync and get it close enough to start. Ensure you have enough fresh gas in the tank, set petcock to prime, and try to start it with one good shot of starting fluid.

For some reason if my 550 sits for ages it can be a bit of a pain that first startup.

The backfiring out of the intake and exhaust actually sounds like the timing is 180 deg out.
Have you had any work on the electrics whilst waiting for the carbs to be done ?

Who rebuilt the carbs? Some folk do a good job, some folk do not.

Ok i will try the shot of starter fluid. When trying that do I spray it in the air box and then try and start or should I somehow spray it somewhere else on the carbs? Never had to use starter fluid on a bike before

The only thing I did to the bike while waiting for the carbs to be done was just replace the gasket on the crankcase cover. Could me pulling that off messed something up on the timing? This is the first bike I have worked on and I am pretty good with cars but I guess a bike is a different beast.

A pretty reputable bike shop here in town. I am going to call them tomorrow and see if they can try and help me out but I onnt want to pay them more money since the carb job was a bit more than expected

Just take the top off the airbox and one decent spray while cranking, throttle closed.

Would also try, turning the idle adjust knob, 1/2-3/4 turn and see if that helps, and make sure your mixture screws are all 1.25 to 1.5 turns out from seated.


Have you ever had the bike running since you had it?

Check for vacuum leaks. The boots may have been damaged when you took the carbs on/off

I had the bike running but it wasnt running very well. I took it around the block since it wasnt registered then yet and after doing that it wouldnt start when I tried to start like an hr after i rode it and the plugs were pretty fouled up. So i then thought it could be a carb issue so I took them in to be done. It hasnt started since. I do have new plugs in it now. I just got the bike like two months ago.

The air box boots are brand new since the other ones hard as a rock and not malleable at all.