First I'd like to say hello to all as this is my very first post on this forum. Recently I purchased a 98 Savage in great cosmetic shape with 4070mi on it but not running. I get to tinkering with it yesterday and discover that what was thought to be the problem (starter solenoid and decomp solenoid) are not the problem. I believe it has very low compression cause it won't do anything with ether even though it has spark. So I start tearing down the head cover and see evidence of someone else having been in there before. Now I'm wondering if they didn't mess with the timing chain. The guy I got it from was told it could be a broken piston ring which I doubt. Any other thoughts as what could this? Also the tail pipe/ muffler is very blue but not the head pipe what would cause that and should I consider that a clue to the underlying condition or would that be a seperate thing? How do you get the blue off? Thanks in advance

Hi, welcome to the forum!

I havent used it before but I have heard good things about Blue Job for removing the blue from the chrome. Google Blue Job and you find it. From what I hear that and alot of elbo grease will make it look much better..
The engine gruru's should chime in soon about the engine...
Darren
IN-S40

If a bike's been sitting a long time, especially if it was parked because of a previous starting problem,... it can lose compression due to a lack of lubrication on the cylinder walls... (sometimes referred to as gas wash)(unburned gas in the cylinder, washes all the oil off of the cylinder walls)...
Try a squirt of oil (maybe a teaspoon) into the sparkplug hole and see if that helps.

Worth a try... My Geo Metro had that happen and lost all compression in all 3 cylinders,... a couple of squirts and it was perfect...
Good luck...

Some nastier options are blown head gasket or burned a hold through a valve.  I did that once on an older Honda 100.  I would certainly try the "squirts of oil" suggestion first and hope for the best.  You wouldn't expect anything majorly wrong on a bike with 4000 miles.

Good luck, -Hal