Hello again.

I apologize for the very long post, but there is a fair bit of detail I thought I should include.

Introduction:
I bought this little monster at the weekend for the pricely sum of £350. She seems in good nick and was an ongoing project for the last owner, however he was having engine problems (low compression as barrels badly scratched and piston skirts damaged). Instead of fixing it he bought a new lump and put that in, but this one doesn't work either. He gave up and hence I now own a 1993 (1997 import) Bandit 400 VC.

Problem:
The original problem was that it was throwing fuel vapour out of the air inlet of the carbs. I assumed the timing was out and with the help of the workshop manual found that the inlet was out by 1/2 a turn and the outlet by 1/4 turn.

The bike now turns over freely and without puffing fuel out of the carbs. I now have gasses coming out of the exhaust pipe

However the bike only turns over freely when all spark plugs are removed. When you get to 3 or more, it will turn over a bit then get stuck. Once stuck you have to put the rear wheel into gear and reverse the engine by hand. Then the eleci motor will turn the engine over again for a little bit before stopping once more. The (new) battery has been on charge for a few hours now and still this is happening. If I take all the plugs back out again she will turn.

On a good note, when she's only got two in it sounds as though she wants to fire

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thanks again,
Bullet5.

Does it fire any fuel out of the spark plug holes when you do this?

No she doesn't, but there is deffinatly fuel getting in there.

When adjusting the cams I put 20 pins (on the chain) between the markers. This is what the "normal" engine requires (in the 92-93 manual), but the '97 VC engine manual states it should be 24. Seen as the '97's are the 2nd generation and that they only have vc on the inlet I guess I shouldn't have set it upto 24 pins?

Another lad on a different forum thinks it may be 21 pins on my vc model (1993 import), he's going to have a look for me at some point if he has some free time, but can anyone on here inform me of the correct number of pins?

Thanks again,
Bullet5.

there are three base motors and cam cam chains are differant early ones use a 219FTH (20pins) chain the later use 215FTH (24pins) then came the Hi-Vo chain models

but some time parts get mixed not that it a problem just turn motor to TDC 1-4 and look at the cam shaft ends there is a Square block like cut out that must center between the cyl head face and the cam cap and the notchs must eithier face towards the spark plug or away at the same time if one notch face the spark plug and one away then the cam sprocket on one of the cams is the wrong way (easy spot if both intake and exh valve gets worked together ie cam lobes face same direction then you have found problem) remember the exh cam and intake cam work 180 deg apart