Decomp Lever ... bike not starting.... HELP!!!

Hey guys,

I have done several searches ... I know this is a popular topic and I'm most likely not the first one to bring it up but I can't find anything as of now so please don't burn me for asking I did try to do my homework

Here's the bike: 1997 FE400 Enduro (no electric start)

Here's the background: I replaced the cam chain, tensioner, and upgraded the cam gear to the steel one after finding some aluminum bits in my oil. I had some trouble getting the water pump to seal but found the issue there and solved it. I reassembled the rocker box. I didn't do much to adjust the decomp lever and it was a bit harder to start than normal. It did, eventually fire up, so I figured I'd mess with it when I got back and went out to play.

When things went wrong: I was out with a friend jumping stuff and running some trails when I snagged one of the radiator hoses and pulled it off the radiator partially (slow leak). I noticed it but was unsure of how long I had been riding like that. I parked it, got some tools, some coolant, and came back. At this point it took me like 15 minutes to get the bike to fire back up but when it did it rode like it always had... full power... full fun!

The problem: I got home and parked the bike. I left for vacation and came back eager for a ride. The problem was that it wouldn't start. I kicked and kicked and kicked.... then weezed, got dizzy, thought of how out of shape I was.... then kicked and kicked and kicked. Occasionally the bike would fire up for 1-2 seconds and die (maybe 3 times in total) but would not stay running.

What confuses me: To be honest, I have never owned a Berg or a dirtbike before. I've always had electric start bikes (my old bike was a Superduke) and have never dealt with a decompression lever. I'm pretty sure I don't have it adjusted right. The manual/this website mentions adjusting the lever where there is 1-2mm of play in the cable. The problem is that mine NEVER has play. The lever is on a spring and keeps tension on the cable at all times. I don't know how to find play when the lever is always under tension from spring that clips onto the camshaft cap. Can someone please help me know how to to mess with this blasted lever so I can determine if that is my problem or something far worse? This bike was ALWAYS a three kick bike before I disassembled it

i'm impatient... sorry bump!

Well... I'm going to go through the entire "poor starting" list this afternoon. I can't seem to get this thing to kick over. Let me know if you can think of anything else to try... here's the list for today:

1. Change the spark plug
2. Do another valve adjustment
3. Disconnect the auto decomp valve on the kickstarter and reset
4. Check all electrical connections
5. clean out the carb and air filters to insure there is no moisture in them
6. If all else fails I'm going to have a buddy pull me down the road on his car and I'll drop the clutch to see if it will fire... that will at least tell me if the bike will run or not and eliminate a starting issue (gear will be worn for safety!)

I do have a few questions:

1. With the spring on the auto-decomp lever attached (the kickstart decomp thing) and the decomp cable dissconnected the lever catches on the radiator. Is this normal? Is this right? I don't seem to remember it being so.

2. Which way is the auto decomp lever pulled to release the pressure in the cylinder? Forward towards the radiator or backwards towards the tail light?

3. Can the slide on the delorto carb be put in backwards?

Thanks,
Austin

Well... after all the testing and messing around I tried one old faithful trick that I thought would do nothing for sure.... I sprayed starting fluid/ether into the air filter and it fired up immediately... then died when the ether ran out.

Here's where I may have caused my own problem... I bought new filters for the bike at the last minute and went riding without them being oiled. Living in Florida I'm pretty sure I got some sand in the carb and clogged up a jet or something.

I'm going to replace the plug again.... disassemble the carb and clean out all the jets and see what happens.

Thoughts anyone?