My new MT500 :D

[ZIP TIE]

Speak to sc-em or pm him,
he's not had his long either and I think your conversations would be f***king funny.

[StackerMel]

Don't you just love 500's I could never get on with the Dellorto, ending up going with a Mikuni a much better carb IMHO, others will argue.

The more they run the better they get, 100% do the plug, regardless of how it looks replace it, atleast you will know its history. Have you tried kicking it over whilst leaving the throttle alone. Every 500 has its own personality and each one has a slightly different knack.

Top tip, do 10 kicks always starting from TDC and then walk away, give it 5 mins and then have another go. You will get it.

Mel

[m1ks]

Previous owner being unable to start it makes me wonder if somethings amiss, have you had any hints st it trying to catch?
First thing to do is after a few kicks, plug out check it's wet, I.e. fuel getting through, if do check spark, easy enough by hand on the kick lever, of you have spark and fuel and fuel is not stale, (this is overlooked often and modern fuel goes pdf quickly, smelling it will make this evident), check timing line as per the change timing belt link to make sure it's ok.
This then leaves technique, an engine which hasn't been run in a while can often be awkward for the first couple of starts.
A bump or tow start will get you fired up and running and able to tell if it does run ok, if it does it will start on the kick. Practise, practise, swear, rub sore foot/calf/knee, curse, try again, cheer once successful.
Be happy you got an amazing bargain regardless.
If your right leg is the dominant one, (right handed), try the method in my video using your right leg, that one works best for me, a fast full swing is more important than strong if you see what I mean, difficult to explain but the faster and further you can get the piston moving the best the chance of it firing, there are other variables too, throttle position and such, trial and error will find the method and it could take a while.
I'd be happy to have a go for you but distance is a problem there!

[SimmoSub]

Congratulations Barrie! Got one at last. Must be frustrating not being able to get it running but I'm sure you'll get it eventually. At that price you can console your self and your sore shin that she looks a real bargain.
Cheers
Dave