Motorcycle Repair: 650 nighthawk wont start, nighthawk 650, compression tester

Question
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Followup To
Chris,

The spark plugs were wet with fuel so doesn't that mean
the cylinders are getting fuel?  What about the idle knob,
the guy was messing with it.  Maybe it is too high or low and
won't start?  I'll also check the compression.  Thanks alot
Chris.

Nancy


Question -
Hi Chris,

Just bought a 85 nighthawk 650 and it was not running for about 2 years and left outside.  I found no built up in the carbs but cleaned them all out.  It tries to start, it sounds like it is going to catch.  It has spark and fuel to the plugs.  Any suggestions on what to try?  I am a beginner mechanic.  When I took out the drain plug some water came out.  
Thanks,
Nancy
Answer -
Hi Nancy.
 As an old school biker, I have always considered no one to be a real biker unless they were willing to turn their own wrench on their machine.  It is good that you are joining that, now elite, group.  Better since you are female.  It is good to see more women doing this.  That said, we move on.

The fact that you found water when you pulled the drain plug means that there is junk in there.  Flush the system with new fluids.  But in order to do that, you need to get it running.

First thing is to be certain that you are, in fact, getting fuel.  Just because the fuel flows from the tank does not mean that you are getting fuel to the cylinder.

 Spray some automotive starter fluid into the intake immediately before starting the bike.  If it fires and then dies, then the problem is fuel supply.  That means that the carbs need to be cleared out.  Something is blocking them.

If the bike fails to start, then the problem is either electrical or compression.  You can check compression with a compression tester.

If fuel supply is not the problem and compression is ok, then that only leaves electrical.

To check electrical, you will need a multimeter and the repair manual.  Check the coils against what the specs are in the manual.  Check the wiring from power to the coils for shorts, arcing, bad connections and loose connections.

Also double check the battery with a hygrometer, which you can get at any bike shop.  If any of the cels are bad, then the bike is not likely to start because the battery isn't producing enough amps.

Start with those and let me know what you find.
Good luck.
FALCON

Answer
Hi Nancy.
 The spark plugs being wet with fuel means that either you are getting no spark, insufficient spark or the carbs have had their mixtures changed from factory settings.  I am betting on the electrical being the problem.

 Did the starting fluid test work?  That will tell you for certain if it is electrical or not.  But clean the plugs off first.

Let me know what happens.
Good luck.
FALCON