Engine Won't Even Try To Start

[petrol punk]

I've been trying to start my 36hp for the last 2 weeks and I've been completely unsuccessful. I adjusted the valves to 6 thou, new points gaped to 16 thou, static timed, nice fat blue sparks at every plug, and the fuel is getting pumped to the carb; you can even smell it in the exhaust tips. The only real difference since I last ran it is that I adjust the accelerator pump today, it was held open even at idle. Starter fluid didn't do a damn, and neither does giving it gas or pulling the choke. Any ideas on what I can check to get it sputtering back to life? The only thing I can think of is compression, but it seems to feel good and has new pistons, rings, and cylinders. (My compression gauge broke)
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36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval
'70 bug 1835cc

[Luft kühl]

Your distributor drive might be off by 180 degrees. When static timing, make sure that the rotor is pointing to the #1 plug wire and not #3.

Since you are not using a timing light, you might also try turning the distributor while someone else is cranking the motor and see if you can get it to fire. You may only have the timing off slightly.

[mharney]

Not so hard.

Pull the right side valve cover off. Rotate the engine until you start to see the #1 intake valve open... keep rotating it until you see the intake valve close.. keep rotating the engine from this point until you see the timing mark lined up with the case seam. Stop. Put the valve cover back on. Now pull the distributor cap off. Whereever the rotor is pointing is where the #1 spark plug wire should be on a post on the cap.

Fix that, put the cap back on. Start it.

[mharney]

Well?

[petrol punk]

[Kwantum-Flux]

Did you check the compression like someone suggested?
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-Kwantum