Bike won't start after cam and air cleaner change

Energy One

slam

Member
Hey guys,

After getting the dog back togather, now it won't start. I installed a 585 cam and a S&S dual runner intake. I'm 99.9% sure I installed the cam and adjusted the pushrods correctly, and I changed the spark plugs. She turns over by doesn't fire. Do I need to zero out the carb(I have a .031 inter jet installed now and I think a .076 main)? I'm hopeing it's something simple. I'm tired of looking at it on the lift. I read in another post about removing the auxiliary bowl vent plug. Is that something I should definately do? All the lights work, the tach goes to 60 then back to 0, battery connections are good, spaceing is correct on plugs(I didn't mess with the coil during the mods). Any help is appreciated.
 

08mastiff

Active Member
I would take the plugs back out, put the trans in 6th gear and start rotating the tire just to make sure at the very least you dont hear any metal hitting (i.e. valves). This is just in case the valves weren't adjusted right......
 

slam

Member
I read that one. That was the post where it said to remove the auxiliary bowl vent plug. I was just wondering if there was anything else that I could do. Will that bowl vent prevent the bike from starting?
 

slam

Member
Hey John, once I got the motor back to togather I did just that and didn't hear any hitting.
 

Five Five

Well-Known Member
If the carb and spark were good before the tear down .... It shouldnt be a problem now .... Did you align the 2 timing marks on the face of the camshaft to the mating gears ?
 

slam

Member
Five Five, I did align the 2 timing marks on the cam. I never did a spark check yet. Friend coming over in an hour or so with some testers to do some more troubleshooting. Thanks for all the help so far.
 

Bowhunter

Well-Known Member
Check out the timing marks that are seen at 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock.


If you have spark, the cam might have been installed with the wrong timing mark at the 6 o'clock position. If the cam is at the wrong position you will have no spark at the correct time(compression stroke) to allow the engine to fire. The cam swaps I have done fired right up immediately with no changes in the carb.
 

slam

Member
Thanks for the pic Steve. The cam is installed correctly. As far as adjusting the carb, I changed the stock air cleaner to the S&S dual runner. That's why I was asking if I had to zero out the carb. I just changed my jets. Went from a .031/.076 to .032/.078. I also removed the auxiliary bowl vent plug.
 

Bowhunter

Well-Known Member
I am running the 585 cam and the .032/.078 are the jets that I have with the big radius pipes and a K&N air filter. I can't imagine that the carb is the problem to get it to start. Ignition and fuel are the likely culprits.
 

HMAN

I just like my Freedom
Supporting Member
I'm sure you've checked, but did you turn the petcock to the ON position??
 

05 old dog

Well-Known Member
take the spark plug out...put it in the boot ...ground the base to the headbolt and roll engine over....
 

slam

Member
I've got spark and I've got fuel(Harry the petcock was turned on). I did have fuel coming out of the air cleaner though. Battery took a beating, so it's on the charger for the night. Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow. Maybe I need a big hammer?
 

MARV

Well-Known Member
Fuel, compression and spark is needed.

Do a compression check

When you do figure it out be sure to change your oil as it's probably contaminated from the flooding.
 

TomM

Member
As has been mentioned do a compression check. Are you sure you didn't get the plug wires crossed when you changed plugs?
 
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