Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, Go-Carts, ATV's and Golf Carts - To set timing for Tecumseh engine for a go cart

I have a Tecumseh 9.0, 4 stroke engine for a go cart. I'm thinking that the timing is messed up. I had put a new piston arm and rings, but after getting it all put back together it wouldn't start or even try. Cleaned out the fuel bowl and was checking to make sure the float wasn't sticking, thats all ok. Did replace the coil with the spark plug wire. But still won't start. What I did find out is that when I pull start it, the exaust is sucking air in and the carbuator is pushing the air and gas out. Now I know this is backwards. If this is from the timing to be set right, can someone tell me how to go about setting the timing right. I thought I might have it right, but no way. Please help!!

Thanks, Sixpaws4

Piston arm = connecting rod....

It should have a dot on the crank, and a dot on the cam..... just line em up.

I found the marks for the timing and lined them up. The piston is at dead top and both valves closed, is that the way it should look? But it still doesn't want to start. I see the exaust is blowing instead of sucking. But the carb is still blowing, does that mean I still don't have the timing set on the right stroke?:wall: Thanks for any help thrown my way!

Sixpaws4

The exhaust should blow air......

As for the carb, has anything been done to the adjustments.... you could have it too rich.

The exaust is blowing air now, but so is the carb. I haven't changed any settings on the carb myself. I do know that he had someone else doing something to it and I don't know it they had changed anything. He said that it was blowing oil and this guy did drain the oil and put that thick honey oil in.
I have the two marks lined up for the timing and the piston is up and both valves are closed. When I go and turn the crank, the exaust valve is the first to open, is this the way it should be? Or do I have to get the intake valve to be the first to be opening? I will check on the setting on the carb, after I put it together once again.

Do a search online for how a 4 stroke engine works. Several sites have very good animations that show how the crank, cam, piston and valves all work. This could be helpful so you can learn the proper sequence of things and figure out if your engine is basically right or wrong.

carbs will blow a little air when your starting them...., and yes, when the engine is tdc on the compression stroke, both valves will be closed. intake stroke, piston goes down..... intake valve is open..., piston comes up to compress, both valves close..... piston goes back down (power stroke) and piston comes back up (exhaust stroke) exhaust valve is open.