Hi all,
Hope someone can point me in the right direction.
Just stripped and rebuilt a 2003 savage with only 10,000 km on the clock that was left outside to rot.
Stripped and painted, scraped, sanded and polished then reassembled.
New starter and solenoid and away she went. Was having battery issues so didn't ride much. Then I changed the battery and went for a ride but when I gave her some juice she coughed and missed so I slowly took her home and pulled the carb. I noticed some black stuff in the fuel which I assumed was dissolved paint from around the petcock from where I had painted the tank.
Stripped the jets and slide and cleaned all with carb cleaner. After putting everything back together she still wouldn't start.
Things I noticed while cranking, 1: if I opened the throttle then rolled it off it would idle for about 3 seconds then stop. 2: Backfiring in the exhaust.
Have tried full choke, half choke and no choke.
Have tried idle screw at 1.5 and 2.5 turns out.
Have checked the spark plug for spark.
Petcock is on Pri and there seems to be plenty of fuel in the float bowl.
Have removed carb a second and third time, lastly to blow it out with an air compressor.
As I've said, she was starting and running fine for a few days but not now.
Could it be something else???
Don't know what to try next. Can't take it to a motorcycle mechanic as I live on an island and there isn't one.

Can anyone with experience help please.
Thanks in advance.
Lenny

Thanks Stewmills,
What you have said is definitely the problem I was having with the old battery. Have since changed it for a good one. Don't think that is the problem now.

Thanks guys,
I don't doubt you but that doesn't seem right now.
I had an old dodgy battery and after charging it she started and ran fine.
I now have a battery from my other bike which cranks her over very strongly for ages.
With the petcock on Pri there is a continuous flow of fuel so why would it be that?

Thanks Verslagen1.
Running stock jets.
Plug looks black but I thought that was because I forgot to push the choke in all the way the last time I rode it. Only about 5 km.
Plug does not look wet after cranking.

Can the timing go out?
I have done the cam chain tensioner mod and there isn't any cam chain noise that is obvious.

Lenny,
Not to harp on the battery and question what you know about your equipment, but a lot of issues have been resolved similar to yours just because of a bad battery.  I got brand new battery that caused me much grief, only to take it back to the store and find it was bad.  Just because it is NEW doesn't always mean it is GOOD.  

It could be that you have other issues that aren't the battery, but to rule that out do you have a meter or a way to check the battery and report the results here?  I don't know the parameters, but if you need guidance on the process and what the expected results should be there are folks here that can lay that out for you.

Hang in there...we'll keep chipping away at this with you.  

Thanks stewmills and ohiomoto & bston,
Appreciate your help guys.

The plug was rather sooty but I did give it a wipe down.
I have a 2016 s40 boulevard also, so I will pull the battery and spark plug from that and fit them in the Savage.
That should either fix or rule out those things.
I'm working today and tomorrow so will get back to the bike on Monday.
As I said, live on an Island, no grid power so no work on bikes after dark.

All suggestions welcome.

Yea, drained all the fuel and bought more.
Used the old fuel in my generator, no problems.

I've just learned there is a filter behind the float needle.
First question, how to get the float retaining pin out.
second question, how much fuel should be flowing into the float bowl.

With the petcock on Pri and the bowl drain screw open there is a steady stream of fuel. Even if the float needle filter is partially blocked I don't see that the bike wouldn't start.

Yea, it's looking like I might have to. Not that I want to pull apart my brand new bike. Higher risk of scratching.
I'll pull battery and plug first, then if necessary the carb till I find the problem.
Will post results Monday arvo.
Appreciate everyones help.