bike won't start

[tarzan]

If you have spent quite a bit of time trying to start it it may have gas fouled plugs.I would pull the plugs first and see what you have there.
Another thing is that you're battery needs to be fully charged to get enough spark.I have found on my 11's that if I am having difficulties starting the bike and the battery starts getting low ,I either have to charge the battery or jump start it.

[WraithKnight]

pulled the battery. It needed to be charged, had about 40% charge on it.

[WraithKnight]

haven't tried starting bike yet still waiting for the battery to finish.

[WraithKnight]

Ok so I checked the gap on the plugs and got it set right. I am getting great spark across them now that the battery is fully charged. But the bike still won't start. Everyonce in a while I get a pop noise and puff of grey smoke out of either #1 or #4 Air cleaner.

[jjwaller]

You never said, Are you getting spark on 2+3? Just checking.
If so, still sounds like carbs. Assuming ignition timing is correct!
If so, try some starting fluid or petroleum lube to the intakes and see if it
try's to fire. Sounds like carbs to me, but then again, I'm one of the lucky ones
that has never had any significant ignition issues.

[DGXSER]

Wraithnight,

Definitely check 2 and 3 also for spark if you have not. If all four have spark, check all four plugs to see if they are wet after you try to start if for a bit wiht no joy. If all four look a bit wet, let them dry, and then switch the coil wires. It is very easy to do and will let you know quick if that is the issue, if it is not, switch them back. Pretty easy check to do and has been the source of such issues more than once. JAT.

[tarzan]

Was the bike running before you took the P/U coils off and put them back on?
If so how did it run then?
If it was at least running then,I would spray some starting fluid under the slides with the throttle held open,then try to start the bike.If it fires then you know it is a fuel problem.If it still won't you may want to have a closer look at the timing.

[WraithKnight]

I gapped the pick-up to .56 mm instead of .7 mm (no joy). I put in new spark plugs and am getting spark on all 4 cylinders(no joy). I took the carbs apart, cleaned them and put them back in(no joy). Sounds like it wants to start now but not turning over. It would start just fine before I took the engine apart to replace the pistons. Once engine was back together it would only start just fine but was running like crap and back firing. I tired to adjust picks and had them wrong for a day or so, the bike would only start if I pushed it down the street. But was only running on #3 and #4 cylinder and back firing like a shotgun. Got points gapped right but now it won't start at all. Maybe I should try pushing it down the street again. Ok I will give all of your suggestions a try. If you think of anything else now that I have given you guys a little more back round on my 1100 cc headache let me know. Thank you very much.

[DGXSER]

Not sure if this was mentioned or tried, but battery has to have a decent charge for it to run.

[tarzan]

Yea'he charged it yesterday.I'm wondering about timing.I mean,it ran before the new pistons.So,maybe the dots are a little off.Or the timing plate is a little off.

WraithKnight,have you run a compression test since you reassembled it?

[WraithKnight]

No I haven't run one yet.

[WraithKnight]

Ran a compression test and have got great compression.

[WraithKnight]

Points look like they may be a little worn. But still getting good spark across the plugs.

[tarzan]

What points?

You have a XS11G right?.Don't you have electronic ignition?
HHHHMMMMMM.

[WraithKnight]

Sorry meant pick-ups not points. The pick-ups around the timeing shaft.