in many of my past posts i had an issue with my 72 where the kick would slip and start to bind up to the point it wont move. after replacing parts a bit at a time and changing out to almost all new, i still had an issue that it would not move at all. still bound up. had taken parts out to a guy who owns a shop about 30mins away and showed him what i have. said some things did need replaced and was glad i did. after 3hrs of him talking to me his suggestion was something was either hooked up backwards or on wrong and i should start to tare down. after going on 4yrs of this build, was kinda heart broke about the situation. needless to say i was at the beginning of a tare down. before i went any farther i started to investigate other areas before i got too far. started to move the crank gear looking into spark plug ports and could see the piston move up and down as i turned the gear forward and back. front piston would reach the top and stop. started to think so i tore the top end off. BINGO!!!!!! turned the gear and everything was free moving. ok something is wrong. flipped the top end over on the table and found that the valve sleeve was broken. was able to turn everything on the one valve, spring but other i couldnt. tore the valve out and found it was bent. also found the other end of the valve sleeve embeded into the top of my piston. just got the valve job done and everything back together and wasthe problem all along. live and learn i guess.
now for the new issue on hand. i have everything back together. tried to kick it to start and nothing. did find no gas was getting into the carb. fixed that problem. getting gas now. but as i try to kick it, once in awhile the kick willl kick back up on me. i still have no real signs of turning over. gave it a lil starting fluid to help but the only thing i can get it to do is a sound of a puff. i have spark on both plugs. any ideas?? i have kicker leg and knee in both legs. THAT SUCKS!!! not only tring to get out of bed but a hang over to boot. today sucks!!!!! thanks to everyone on the help and thought i would pass the info along for the future lanky

 

I am in no way an expert with this situation, but when I bought my ironhead a few months ago I could not get it to turn over to save my life. It ended up being that the screws on the timing plate had become loose during transport and the plate had slid all the way to the retarded position. I set the plate center of the screw holes, and now it starts within a couple of kicks. I have not gotten the timing spot on yet, because I am waiting for the clear timing plug to come in from jp cycles. I know how frusterating this can be. I am still fighting some carb issues. Hopefully one of the experts on here will chime in soon for you. If pinion gear steps in I recommend listening to what ever he has to say. He is like a walking, talking service manual. Good luck!