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Hi Arthur:
You've gotta have spark at the plug and get gas into the cylinder so I'd be looking confirming spark, and then draining and cleaning the carb.
How long since it's been running?
If you have spark, compression, and fuel to the carb but not at the plug. You have a clogged carb. Try starting with starting fluid, if it fires briefly, your carb needs to be removed and cleaned.
Are you pulling the plug to check for wetness after cranking it a few times, WITHOUT using the starting fluid? Also, I would recommend using carb cleaner in place of the starting fluid. Starting fluid runs the engine VERY hot for a brief time and can possibly damage rings, valves, and aluminum parts.
The fact that it starts is a very good sign that there is not a major problem. Here are some random suggestions from my vast experience with small engines, start with the simple ones, and work your way towards the more difficult/costly: Air filter, be sure choke is working properly, clean carb with compressed air, replace internal parts in carb, gas cap, leaky primer bulb, clogged spark screen in exaust, carbon build up in exaust port/muffler, idle/mixture screw adjustment, faulty plug wire, short in kill switch, bad fuel or mixture. Also, when you say, or I say clean the carb, I mean the INSIDE of the carb, not the outside. I hope this helps, keep me posted as to what the problem was!
If spark plug is dry, fuel is not getting to the cylinders. Next thing to check would be the fuel pump... Gas may be getting to carb, but the pump needs to push it into the cylinders too.
you can take the screen out altogether-ive done that for almost 20 years.That is probably your problem.You can also change the fuel filter in the gas tank.There is usually enuf slack in the gas line in the tank that you can get the filter to the gas tank opening and hold it w your fingers or pliers and remove it.Be careful with pliers to not gouge fuel line and just pull filter firmly off fuel line.There may be a tiny metal ring that helps hold fuel filter on to fuel line.Try to kind of hold it in place as you pull filter out of fuel line.If you lose it its not a big deal.Most filters fit snug onto a fuel line anyway.-A good way to get the filter to the mouth of the gas tank to work on is to empty all the gas and take a metal clothes hanger and bend it so you get a little hook in it and kinda "fish" for the fuel line w filter attatched.Within minutes you'll figure it out and get the filter up to the mouth of the gas tank where you can work on it.If you dont have enuf slack to work you can disconnect the fuel line at the carb and pull yourself a little slack.Dont go more than about 1/2 -3/4 inch though.----along w the muffler screen(located behind plate that is attatched to muffler with 3 small screws)(check plate itself for ability for air to pass thru-can clean it out with tiny screwdriver)-you can also take entire muffler off(two allen screws)that reveals a look at port where all the exaust comes from.If that area is choked with carbon you'll have a problem.Some weedeatwers get it bad some dont.So...check clean or remove(screens clog up fast) muffler screen located under plate thats attatched to muffler-----while plate is off check it for carbon buildup(you can hold up to the sun and see if sunlight goes thru it-that will tell you)-------take muffler off and look at exaust port(if dirty scrape carbon carefully out-turn machine upside down,tap with something,etc...no biggy)-----fuel filter.Also check air filter though probably not your problem unless its totally caked with stuff or getting soaking wet somehow.The only two main other things would be a plug or the thing attatched to one of the gas lines called a vent-just a little thing that pops on to the end of a line.I dont think the air filter ,vent,or plug is your problem-especially the vent or air filter.Its probably exaust related or fuel filter.---make sure youre gas mixture is right and make sure the gas isnt real old.---Ive had echos for 20 years-hope it wasnt too much to digest.Its all simple really-was just tryin to be descriptive to help u as much as possible.good luck
It cranks really good sputters a little and makes some loud pops but it will not turn over? FYI:Cranking and turning over are the same thing. When was the last time it ran. The gas could be bad. Did you get new plug wires as well. Try testing the distributor, remove a spark plug, plug it back into the wire, and touch the threads to ground and crank the engine. It should spark. Keep your fingers away, that's high voltage. Remove all spark plugs, spray some starting fluid in each cylinder, then crank the engine with the plugs out. This will clean any debris from the cylinders. Engines need backpressure to run properly, a major exhaust leak hence the popping, could cause it to not run. If you can get it started try to keep it going, full throttle, keep in the starting fluid, it could just need to get warm. I used to have one of them and they don't like it when they're cold.
Your Twin Cam plug should be a 6R 12 Harley Plug. Often times the back fire is just the nature of the beast depending on what type of pipes you are running. Harleys do run lean, its an EPA thing thtas why they choke them down from the factory. Since you have a carb you could have an intake leak around the Intake. Also Under the carb is an adjustment screw. Harley plugs it up so people don't play with it. You have to just drill out the plug this will set your air fuel. Whenever I take a carb off I drill out that plug. Heat your bike up operating
temp and ear tune that screw. Only other way is with air fuel analizer or a dyno. good luck.also that backfire is caused by fuel hitting your exhaust when you let off just to let you know.
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