[johnatthebar]

Sorry for being the new guy with the large question, but I look forward to helping out and learning across the forum. This seems to be one of the more active ones.

I am looking for any advice that someone might kindly throw at me becuase I am spent. Think of this long post as an application, becuase if you can fill it out right you will be my new best friend :-)

I hadn't ridden my 97 Magna (8k miles) for a few months becuase of a flat tire, stolen tag, and so on. After a little coaxing it started up and ran great. I changed the rear tire, lubed everything up and cleaned the air filter. While the airbox was off I thought, meh, lemme spray a little carb cleaner int eh throat, just for surface gunk. After reassembling everything it wouldn't turn over. I figured it was just the carb cleaner burning off so I kept cranking. While cranking I heard a horrible noise that sounded like the engine coming to a dead stop. I fearfully cranked again (worried I would find a seized engine) but nope, sounded perfectly normal and kept cranking. Nothing.

I checked and had spark in all cylinders. Fuel was vaporizing in the cylinders. Without any other ideas I started disassembling further. I removed and dismantled the carb to be sure it was as clean as new, and it definatly is now. I checked all my vac lines, fuel lines, etc. Rechecked for spark. Reassembled bike. Still nothing. No combustion at all. Cranks nice, vaporizes fuel, and sparks.

Whats left? Timing and compression. Well, the ICM is preset, from what I gather you can test the timing but not really adjust it, just replace the ICM. I haven't tested yet (light gun seems buried in the garage), but I am doubting the timing suddenly went so far out of whack I wouldn't get any combustion.

I have to buy an adapter for my compression gauge tomorrow to check that. From what I have read elsewhere no one has had one of these engines actually fail. And again, it sounds normal when cranking...no combustion though.

A last ditch starting effort yielded one more finding. While starting I heard what sounded like a push of air come from the exhaust. Like a backfire without the 'fire'. I thought I was nuts and cranked again, after a few seconds it did it once more, right after I let my finger off the start button.

Any ideas? I am really at a loss. The timing at compression seem so unlikely but I don't know what else to try. Thanks much.

[Jetpilot07]

put your finger over the spark plug hole and turn it over, if it has compression it will push your finger off the hole.....sounds like timing to me

also try shotting a little ether in the carbs to see if it will fire, then get back to me.

[johnatthebar]

even in days on 3g blackberries and iPhones I find your reply speed impressive, thanks.

I did put some starter spray down the throat to no avail. That surprised me since I know there is spark.

I wanted to try the finger thing but my back is ruined from 2 days of bending over working on this bike and if I took the protective cover off to get a seal with my finger it would be game on until 0400 again tonight.

I did note that there seemed to be equal ammounts of air puffing out of all the exhaust pipes (magnas have one pipe per cylinder) but I dunno if that is very telling at all.

[johnatthebar]

lets do the "maybe the connector is just loose dance"
Module, Ignition Control P/N: 30410-MZ5-671 ~$480