thumper wrote on 02/06/12 at 09:28:38:ok so went and got a fresh spark plug, undid the intake duct to be sure its breathing, and used a lil starter fluid. but nothing, still not starting. am i missin somethin here?
You need three things: air, fuel, and spark.
Air is easy, you've opened up the intake. Fuel, is also not hard here since you are shooting in some starter fluid (it should at least fire once or twice on that).
Now to check the spark. Pull the plug, stick it in the spark cap, position it near the head and turn the starter. you should see a nice bright spark and if you're lucky, you'll feel it running through you too. don't worry, it isn't enough to hurt, just enough to wake you up a little
a few years ago I had trouble starting in the cold because my battery was low. enough juice to turn 'er over but not enough to spark at the same time, so that is a legitimate concern. Even if you get a spark using the previously stated test method, the engine is a lot easier to turn over sans spark plug. maybe if you had a second one to plug the hole while testing the other out of the engine....