Saving Old Seagulls

I was given an old seagull. the piston was frozen. I freed the piston. replaced the piston rings and connecting rod , bearings seals and gasket. all went well for the first time doing something like this. put it all back together and it doesn't start. downloaded the manual. I have a blue spark when I put the spark plug against the engine, but it doesn't start. tried starting fluid it didn't help. it doesn't even try to start. I need all the help I can get to figure this out.
thanks
greg

Hi is it getting fuel what motor do you have you will find all answers here that,s for sure

Could be that the piston is upside down, easy mistake most of us must have done it.

The bit on the piston that sticks out should be at the top of the cylinder.

Or you have the timing way out, is the key in the keyway of the flywheel.

If you have a spark, compression and fuel it will fire, and run for a short time with a squirt of fuel through the inlet stub.

H-A

I had the same problem and a squirt of engine oil into the crank case helped.

have a look at the fuel side.
start with the tank, the tap,the line and then the carb itself.
sounds to me as though you've got a good spark but nothing to burn!

clean everything?
if the motor has been left untouched for a number of years, you can bet its going to be dirty somewhere in there

jon

the piston is in correctly. adjusted the timing as per the manual. took the head off and clamped it on the bench sprayed starter fluid directly into the intake and nothing.so I believe it eliminated the fuel system completely. will look tomorrow and find the model number again. thanks for the responses....keep them coming
thanks
greg

Any chance to have forgotten to cut the paper gasket on the base of the cylinder where the fuel transfer port is located?

Strip everything apart in the powerhead and start at the beginning.
Assemble the cases with the crank/rod and piston etc. (well worth using a good sealant on the case halves to get a really good seal at this point) check to make sure this sufficient "end float" in the crank and that it all rotates smoothly.

Next check the connection of the head to block. (did you use a brand new gasket or are you re-using the old gasket?)
As per STELIOS's reply, the cylinder base gasket should have an area at the top of the cylinder area (transfer port). this should not be covered over with any part of the gasket material. if it is blocked in any way, the fuel/oil mixture cannot get into the combustion chamber to get burned?

Reassemble the crankcases and block/head.
Double check everything on the fuel side again. Little trick i use is drop the float bowl off (villiers carb) or undo the fuel line at the bottom of the carb (amal carb) and then turn on the fuel. if it runs out the bottom you know you've got fuel flow (but is it getting into the carb?) This is where it needs to be clean.
Even the slightest little blockage in a carb jet will prevent any fuel getting through. Check also that the little filter in the banjo joint isn't blocked as this will also stop the fuel getting through.

If your motor has a spark and fuel is getting to the right places then it should run.( it has to)
Try and start it out of water first as it will make things a bit easier. You can safely do this for about 30 secs. at a moderate throttle setting but no more.
Try again and report back

jon