So I recently traded my Honda xr250 for a low mile 83 GL. Owner said it ran before it sat for a few months. 

To cut to the chase. Checked ignition, checked fuel. car will crank but won't start. Even changed the fluids, and spark plugs. The carb just seems to spit fuel out of the carb vents. Previous owner put a Holley on it. Figured it may have been the carb so got a new Weber 32/36. Put it on and still spits with no start. Now I'm thinking I need to adjust valve clearences since the service manual says that it may throw compression tests off. Should I get ready to crack open the valve covers, or should I focus my attention elsewhere? Any help should narrow it down, I'm new to Subaru flat 4s, so go easy on me. Thanks all!

start with the easy stuff.  ...sounds like you have fuel. 

-does the distributor rotor turn when you crank the engine ?

-do you have spark at the plugs ?

- are the plugs wired in the right order ?

-check compression, see what you get. can't hurt

Had spark at the plugs and made damn sure the wires were right but I'll check that stuff too thanks Dee2

Is the choke closed when it's cold?

From one of the earlier posts, you said it was pouring fuel into the intake?  It's badly flooded.  It takes a long time to clear that.

Give it a 2 second shot of carburetor cleaner in the primary, holding the throttle open.  Then go give it a crank, holding the gas pedal about half way down.  If it fires momentarily, you know everything is ok except lack of fuel / or mix.

 

 

Edited July 8, 20187 yr by DaveT

@Sir_wankel Any luck?

Can you do a compression test before fiddling with valve clearances?

Tell us what firing order you have checked.

 

Thanks guys for the tips. @ebarb @jono @DaveT @Dee2. Had a friend of mine who's good with older cars look at it. Seems that the distributor was firing in the wrong order. Moved it a few teeth and aligned with tdc and it turned right over! 

Incase y'all were wondering here's what she looks like

Feedback is what we like . Nice looking old beast. Is the colour the same as your bike or some optical digital illusion?