81 virago help

[hellrazor3114]

ok my brother has a 81 virago 920 we just did the head gaskets and now we cant seem to get it to start. I have a partial manual (the rest is corrupt). It at first would only give the ocasional backfire out of the exaust, so I double adjusted the valve clearences and now it has the ocasional backfire out of the intake. im guessing the timing is off but im not sure how to check or change it.

[2ohno]

If Im not mistaken , you set the number once cyclinder to TPC, check in the timing port to see if it is on the TDC mark there and the look at the cams - It should have two marks to show you if its level to the top of the head ( where the valve cover mates up, Im not sure of how to describe it ) . If its in time the marks will be level, if not, youl lhave to remove the chain and get it level, then put it all back together - Its not uncommon for it to have skipped time, thats where I would start, seeing as how it was just apart. other than that ,make sure your battery is agood an string - at least 12v - before even attempting to start it - alot of Yamahas are very particular to voltage , i.e. FZR600s and RD350s -
Good luck !

[hellrazor3114]

well lastnight we switched the power wires to the coils around and it started right up.

[2ohno]

D'oh !

[stamperman]

I was stranded in Columbus Ohio following a burnt valve repair on my 920 because it took the dealer two days to figure out that they had reversed the sparkplug wires doing the repair.
Sorry I didn't see your post sooner!