Hi guys! I'm new here and I just bought my first bike. It was bought used from a shop and was in pretty bad cosmetic condition. The previous owner chopped off everything past the back of the seat and the electrical was a mess as well. I rewired it all and all the main components seemed to be intact. I removed, cleaned, and reinstalled the carburetor, got a new battery, new oil filter, and new oil. Finally, I go to start it and it won't start.

What happens: I turn it on, press the start switch and it makes a "wirrrhhhrr-wirrrhhhrr-wirrrhhhrr" sound. I think that it turns over, but it will not fire, catch, or continue to run. I can faintly smell gas and I think it is flooding.

What I have tried:
I have checked the petcock via the suck test and the "plug and prime" test.
I have checked the spark plug for excess corrosion and cleaned it.
I have checked to make sure that the kickstand and clutch kill-switch are being depressed.
I am reasonably sure it is not an issue with the coil.
I haven't checked the battery voltage since attempting to start it. I don't think that's the case because it's brand new, but I will check it tomorrow.

What I suspect:
I suspect it's a problem with the carburetor as it's the only part that I serviced and was not reasonably familiar with. Mine contained the extra little fitting that looks like a jet and there is a small possibility I switched it and the same sized jet when reassembling the carb.
It may also be a spark problem. A friend who has worked as a car mechanic says it sounds like it's not getting spark.

I'm willing to preform any test deemed necessary but due to my schedule I can only work on it on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Weekends. I'm proficient in maintenance and repair of most things, but this is only my second time working with an internal combustion engine based machine. I am also happy to upload any pictures requested.

Thanks so much for any help you can provide! I hope I'm not just missing something obvious or someone who has already answered this. Thanks again guys, you're awesome!

Hey, a speedy reply. You guys are the best!

Ok, compression. The "spark plug hole" would mean take out the spark plug and pour a little fuel right down in there, right? And the carb throat is where the carb attaches to the main engine block? Ok, I can do that.

The spark plug. You mean I should just take it out, plug it back into the wire and try to start it with the plug outside the engine to visually confirm a spark? Ok, I can do that too.

I think I heard the "chug... chug" sound along with the "whiirrr" but it was yesterday and I may be incorrect. I will check and confirm "chug" sound tomorrow.

I am in Sacramento California. And this is great, I honestly can't thank you enough.

I've been over a large portion of these forums already as they are my only real source of info for my bike.

I'm taking care to only give it 5 second long (or less) cranks and cooling off between tries.
I'll get a new plug tomorrow just to eliminate it as a possibility.
Good, I thought that's how the safeties worked but I wasn't sure.

"Reasonably sure is not absolutely sure as in running." Very true sir, very true.

I bought the bike about two months ago and have been working on it in spurts since then. I got the battery about a month ago and installed and tested the voltage 3 weeks ago. Then it was steady at about 12.4V. This is the first time I tried to start it and the only other drain was a few quick tests of the lights when I was doing the wiring. It's possibly that there's a short somewhere that's phantom draining the battery and if that's the case I'll find out tomorrow with my multi meter.

And yes indeed, the "last work done" rule also applies to my native domain of computers. I only mentioned the carb jet as a possibility after checking the carb cleaning guide on this site. The one featured there has the same unlisted, un-described little brass fitting as in mine. Other than that though, I think I cleaned and assembled it correctly. All the other guides on the internet are a bit ****.

Gotta set the petcock to prime.
Unsure of the carb?
Squirt ether in the intake. The air goes in just below the seat.
If you're not hearing the One Big Phadt Pisst On huffing air, pull the oil fill plug and feel for a pulse. If it's pulsating there but not at the exhaust I'd be seeing if the cam is turning.