gulf vet needs desperate help 1200 sporster

[gromit01]

Hi Lads, I am in the process of trying to sort out my mates 883 sporster with a 1200 big bore conversion, my mate is a disabled gulf war veteran and a few months ago a so called friend decided to strip his bike for some strange reason, but in doing so he caught the wire form the ignition module in the cam gears and tried to start it, resulting in a snapped wire, he said he would repair it and then dissapeared never to return, so I said I would repair the bike as he left it with the heads off and timing cover off as well, sounds pretty straight forward eh,,,, well so I thought,, I have replaced all the gaskets from the base up, the ignition module has been repaired,, and fresh fuel put in,, but the bloody think wont start,, not even firing,,the timing is set, there is big fat sparks on both plugs and fuel is getting through, however when the engine is turning over on the starter fuel vapours are being pushed out the air filter,, to me it sounds like the valves are opening at the wrong times, perhaps a timing error on my behalf,, but before I strip it to re-set it all, can anyone help with other possible causes, this is the first V Twin I have worked on, please help lads

[sanfam93]

1. you posted in the VROD area
2. Try the XLforums its a site just for sportsters.

Good luck too you

http://www.xlforum.net/vbportal/modules/Jig/index.php?

[tubtar]

Slap a compression tester on it.......if you don't have one available , place a thumb or finger over ( NOT INTO !! ) the spark plug holes and see if you are generating any kind of cylinder pressure while cranking.
It sounds a lot like a cam timing issue to me.
If you aren't building significant pressure here , that is the likely culprit.
It should blow your digit right off the opening.



edited to add...........your mate's name wouldn't be Wallace by any chance , would it ?
Good luck.