200x wont start

[kevinkline]

i have a 1985 honda 200x with a weisco 12 to 1 piston in it and a xr 200 cam and i rebuilt the engine from stock compression and cam to whats in it now and i cant get it to start. the motor has never been run since rebuild but has 155 psi compression and the leakdown test showed 4% leakdown which is great considering most engines have 10% leakdown. is has spark and is timed right i am running stock carb and header with stock muffler with baffle removed i lost interest in the 3 wheeler a year ago because it wouldnt start and the fact that i got a 86 200x that runs great but now i want to get the 85 back together so if you have any ideas please comment

Thanks Kevin

[kevinkline]

i forgot to mention i tried starting the 200x on 104 octane 1st then 87 and a last ditch effort of starting fluid

[FlyingW]

Spark present?

[ADW3]

Kevin says it has spark...so, does it even make the slightest pop, sputter, or cough? If it has spark and is timed correctly then it should at least pop or sputter on ether (starter fluid.) Where are you spraying the starter fluid? Into the airbox or directly into the carb (airbox removed) ?

[jenndnn3]

Have you tried pull starting it?

[FlyingW]

That is usually correct. It should at least pop on ether. If its never run since rebuild then check timing again and valve adjustment. Check your CDI assembly for proper installation. Look for faulty electrical connections and be sure it is properly grounded. Use the process of elimination. Just think of all the things it takes to make a motor run. Don't assume anything.

One thing to check. Make sure the pilot screw on the carb is assembled in the right order. Oring, washer, spring, pilot screw. I reversed the o ring and washer on my 350 and it did the same thing. Everything was there for it to run but it wouldn't. Swapped those two parts and it fired up first kick.

[bones200x]

Is the plug wet? If not..NO fuel. If plug is wet, either flooded or no spark.
I know you said you have. But recheck valve timing. Even with new 12:1 piston...I think it should have closer to 180 psi...I know valve wear and so on..
MAKE sure Valves are adjusted right!!! One may be tight???
Plus I just rebuilt my engine(200X). I only have 10.25:1 piston and have 160psi.
Before ever starting(new rings)
If all else fails. Pull start. BE safe about it.

[SWIGIN]

you did put the little pin in the cam for the cdi stuff right?

i had that pin shear on mine back in the day and it took me forever to trace the problem to that

[kevinkline]

i adjusted valves and i know its timed ti just rechecked that ive tried to pull it behind a car and start it nothing works i have the air box off it and i spray either into the carb directly and no pop or n e thing i know a engine needs compression fuel spark and air is a given i ll just check all my grounds ans wiring harness and ill take the carb off my 86 200x and give it a shot with that but you guys say it should have more compression than that for a 12 to 1?

[kevinkline]

i dont know if this even matters but b4 i rebuilt this engine it broke a valve at high rpm by breakin the head off and destoyed my piston and head so i have a diff topend now but it ran like a rapped ape b4 it blew up so i dont see any relavance in an electrical problem and the rod and bearings are good

[kevinkline]

ive also heard that i should run a copper head gasket but i have looked and had every parts guy in the atv industry in amsterdam look for one and they say they havent heard of one i do have a copper gasket tho its an old used one i got from an old atc guy but do i have to run a copper and if not should i torque the haed more?

[bones200x]

1 thing to check... The cdi rotor. The part that you time with. You can put it on 180 degrees out. (if you took it out the advancer). I did on mine. Forgot to pass it along. Put cam TDC. Make sure rotor is UP!. I kicked on mine for 15 min before I found it. It had fire,just not at TDC. Just a check???

[kevinkline]

bones200x was exactly right my rotor was off 180 so i put it back and fired up and ran like a raped ape until the head gasket blew out so i have to put a 3 layer metal 1 in it but bones thanks alot

[FlyingW]

Very good Kevin. I have noticed that the books for the 185/200/200x are a little vague when it comes to setting the timing during assembly.

[Ed200X]

You can reuse 100% copper head gaskets forever if you don't tweak them outa shape or otherwise damage it. Just get a propane or preferbly a MAPP gas torch, some pliers, heavy-duty gloves, eye protection, and a trough of cold+clean water together. Hold the gasket with the pliers and heat it up until it's cherry red all over.
Quickly quench it in the water and let it cool in it. Slap that annealed puppy back on the motor & torque bolts in 4 easy stages to spec. After running the engine up to temperature. Shut it down and let engine cool completely. Retorque the head. You shouldn't have anymore head gasket blowing with Hi-Comp Ratio's.

[kasey200x]

man my 200x use to have a 12:1 compression piston in it. i would watch my brother try to kick it... it would throw him off over and over. that thing scared the living crap out of me. when we rebuilt it we had the same problem with the rotor. felt retarded for not realizing the 30sec. fix.