replaced head gasket...now won't start...feeling in over my

[rgierer]

Decided to replace head gasket and get some old bolts pulled from the head and get a heliocoil in a plug hole. Bike is 1982 GS1100GK

assembled and wont start. Even used starting fluid no luck.

pulled the valve cover and checked to see if I had 20 cam chain pins between the two points while on on TDC. This looked good. Is there any other point I should be checking for timing?

Any ideas I am pretty stumped....and tired

will go after it again tommorrow.

All I can think of is checking valve clearance to make sure I didn't misplace a bucket

[Buffalo Breath]

no go

So do you have spark? have you checked for spark, do you have all the wires hooked up and also the coils 1-4 and 2-3 set up right, does it have compression??? need more info. do you smell gas?

[rgierer]

I have spark but poor compression

plug Wires are on correctly

[robinjo]

Do all your valves go up and down when you rotate the engine by hand?
Do the arrows on the cams point upwards when the T on the crank is at it's mark?
Does the compression go up when you put a little oil in the cylinders?
Checking the clearances is mandatory after the new headgasket!!!
Switch over the HT leads just for fun!

[DaveDanger]

Check and make 100% sure that you're not timed correctly on marks, but 180 degrees out. It's an easy mistake to make on a 4 stroke.

[Redman]

You say it doesnt have good compression now. If it ran before you had head off it must have had fairley good compression then, at least lot better than now. What would effect the compression from having head off and back on is the cam timing.
I have seen postings about there being some way to easily missunderstand the markings on the ignition timing so that you can be way off.
Maybe someone will describe that again.

Or maybe you will decide to part it out and let me have the rear shocks real cheap har har har

[DaveDanger]

REDMAN, you are COLD brother! (I'll take the shocks and give you a dime more'n redman will...)

[rgierer]

If I am 180 of how do I correct it?

[DaveDanger]

rgierer, I'm working from memory here so bear with me. In most 4 stroke engines, the camshaft turns at 1/2 crankshaft speed. Since the points or ignition system is driven by or "pulsed" by the camshaft, the ignition spark is provided every other crankshaft rotation.

What is desired is to set the crankshaft at top dead center, #1 cylinder compression stroke. Then to set up the ignition to fire at the exact timing provided by the manual for the specific engine.

What is very easy to do, is to accidentally time the ignition with the engine at top dead center Exhaust stroke... or 180* out. When you inspect the points for breaking and spark, it is producing it when the crank appears to be in the correct position, but in reality, it's producing the spark when your exhaust valves are open and exhaust is already beginning to scavenge out of the cylinder.

I nearly pulled my hair completely out one weekend by assembling a Honda CL350 3 DIFFERENT TIMES 180* out. I KNEW! each time I'd done it correctly... *sigh*. I finally tarped the engine up and went and got a good night's sleep, started again the next morning. Got it right.

[rgierer]

So you are telling me even if 1 and 4 are up I can be 180 out of time. I wouldn't have thought of that

[earlfor]

You are sooooooo right!!! :-)

Earl

rgierer, I'm working from memory here so bear with me. In most 4 stroke engines, the camshaft turns at 1/2 crankshaft speed. Since the points or ignition system is driven by or "pulsed" by the camshaft, the ignition spark is provided every other crankshaft rotation.

What is desired is to set the crankshaft at top dead center, #1 cylinder compression stroke. Then to set up the ignition to fire at the exact timing provided by the manual for the specific engine.

What is very easy to do, is to accidentally time the ignition with the engine at top dead center Exhaust stroke... or 180* out. When you inspect the points for breaking and spark, it is producing it when the crank appears to be in the correct position, but in reality, it's producing the spark when your exhaust valves are open and exhaust is already beginning to scavenge out of the cylinder.

I nearly pulled my hair completely out one weekend by assembling a Honda CL350 3 DIFFERENT TIMES 180* out. I KNEW! each time I'd done it correctly... *sigh*. I finally tarped the engine up and went and got a good night's sleep, started again the next morning. Got it right.

[DaveDanger]

Yessir rgierer, That is exactly what I was saying in that hugely long and rambling dissertation. I thank you for helping me put it so succinctly

(And I thought it was just my wife that feels I circumlocute excessively in my elucidations)

But seriously, yes, it is possible to have your timing correct in all ways except be on the wrong stroke of the crank.

[robinjo]

Book says:

T next to 1-4 exactly on the mark.
Arrow with 2 next to it on exhaust cam pointing straight up.
Arrow with 3 next to it on intake cam pointing straight up.
20 pins between the 2 arrows.

[rgierer]

For Redman:
This is my first bike...fondly referred to as Maude. She won't be parted out. I do know a salvage yard with 2 GK's sitting in it that I use for my private store of parts. I could share this knowledge with you ...if I noticed an improvement in your attitude...I don't know if you have the level of committment I require.

I will be out this morning moving my crank while leaving my cams still.

[rgierer]

Thankyou to each of my friends who helped me out and a special thanks to Greg who sent me to the right place. I moved the crank and now she fires. I think I will have to let the final finishes wait until next week end. I have some family members who believe all of a holiday weekend should no t be spent working on bikes.

Again Thank you GSR bailed me out big time.

Robin