86-Savage wrote on 06/04/15 at 03:59:33:Starter motor turns and turns but does not fire...I have spark.
TDC...I rotated the engine counter clockwise until the intake valves ( ones near the carb) went down and came back up and lined up the timing marks.

only turn the crank in one direction, if you go past, go around again.
Quote:..for some reason after checking the clearance 3 times the valves were too tight each time...less than .003.
not good, if you pull up on the rocker does the adjustment change?
Quote:I did not adjust the decompression solenoid to speck at TDC...I loosened the 2 nuts on the lever but didn't see how to adjust cable.
You need to take the tank off to measure the decomp solenoid (8mm I think you said), on the back side of the solenoid is a rubber cap, pull it off and that's where you measure, clymers is completely unclear on the subject.
Or you can adjust by function.
Too tight and it'll take 3 or 4 rev's to start.
Too loose and the starter will stall.
1 or 2 turns is what you're looking for.