I've done all of the stuff you would do for an automobile racing engine--including a shot of ether (quick start). As I said, it has spark at plug and fuel at carb.
What I am not familiar with is these carburators---not much like a four barrel holley double pumper! As I understand it, the choke is really not a choke butterfly but some form of fuel enrichment system that I don't yet understand.
Car cranks like it is starving for gas, but plugs are wet.
Was trying to get a feeling for whether these engines are tough to start in really cold weather. I remember my 250 motorcross bike would not start in the winter 0when it was cold without pushing it in gear.
I'm thinking problem is a combination of old plugs, old gas, old battery and very cold air. Had not thought of the bad fuel in carb bowls.
Noticed battery ground is only run to battery holdown and not run directly to starter as I have been taught is best practice. This would cause battery cranking voltage to be weaker than optimum--slow cranking and low starting voltage.
I think by the time I figured out how to activate choke system manually (it does not have cable) the plugs were too wet and the battery was too run down.
Will attack problem again later this week. Expecting 50 degrees on wednesday?