Compression test?

[John Mason]

Hi Steven, How old is your petrol. Cars always start better with new petrol. Try some new fresh petrol if you have any and take off your carb fuel chamber throw the old away and fill with new. If it starts and runs for a few minutes then you have proved your problem is old petrol if is doesn’t you have not lost much time or effort checking it. In my experience petrol does not last longer then about 6 weeks unless kept in an airtight container.
As to your advance and retard position. You are correct you will get a heavy kick back if to far advanced. You are probably correct in backfires caused by to far retarded. Now you know where these two points are set the position some where between the two.

John Mason