Motorcycle Repair: R&R engine wont start, timing chain replacement, water in the fuel

Question
----------------Hi Chris, I went over the timing & found a mistake involving the cam sprockets. Reassembled & basically does same thing. Also backfired through carbs and ignited starting fluid but no damage or harm, just high blood pressure. What next?
Followup To
Question -
Ok I tried starting fluid and it "spit, spudered, backfired and showed "some" life but omly a brief second or two. Also, before the fluid it cranked sounding normal but after using starting fluid it made chattering type knocking sounds from inside engine. Thanks  Matto-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
86 600 ninja recently rebuilt, initially for timing chain replacement. Getting spark, compression & almost positive about fuel. Will not show signs of starting, just cranks over & over. a good process of elimination would help. Replaced set of rings, IC igniter, stator, rectifier, valves job. What next?
         Thanks,
Answer -
Hi Matto.
 Well it sounds like you have everything to start the bike, so obviously you are missing something from the equation.

Get some automotive starter fluid.  Spray some into the intakes and start the bike.  It should fire and die.  If it does, then the problem is, in fact, fuel supply.  In which case, you could have water in the fuel or something clogging the fuel line or ports in the carbs.

If it fails to fire, then the problem is electrical.  Go over the entire ignition system with a multimeter.  Check for anywhere that the spark is being robbed from you by arcing or shorts.

Let me know what you find.
Good luck.
FALCON
Answer -
Hi Matto.
 Is the valve timing and gap set correctly and the idle speed set correctly?

It could be that the valve timing is off.  You will need to do that to be sure.  Since you just replaced the timing chain, you could also have it not properly adjusted.  Refer to the manual for that proceedure, since it tends to change from make and model to make and model.  The manual will also have the gap settings for the valves as well.

Let me know and we can move to the next thing if need be.
Good luck.
FALCON

Answer
Hi Matto.
 Ok.  You've found one problem, which tells me that the valves were out of adjustment as well as the ignition timing.

 The fact that it fires with the starter fluid means that you have a fuel flow problem.

1)  Check the entire fuel system for blockage and check the vacuum line from the fuel valve to the manifolds and see if the is an air leak or loose connection.  If that line is cracked, replace it.

2)  If step 1 finds no problem or dos not fix the problem, then pull and clean the carbs.  Something is blocking the flow of fuel and it could be something as simple as water or as damaging as rust.

2a)  to check for water in the system, drain the carb's float bowl into a clean, clear glass jar.  Look for bubbles in the BOTTOM of the fuel. Dump the jar out and repeat for all carbs as well as the fuel tank.

 NOTE: Water is heavier than fuel, so it will sink to the bottom of the jar, and will look just like bubbles (or a big bubble) on the bottom.

IF YOU FIND WATER IN LARGE AMOUNTS; dump the fuel and replace with new.

IF YOU FIND ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER; drain the tank and all carbs into a safe container (for proper disposal) untill you get no water from the fuel system.

Try those things and let me know what happens.
Good luck.
FALCON