Incorrectly timed engine will run/idle just fine, but it can run real hot, causing starting issues.
You need to set the timing with a timing light. Do you have the correct timing mark tab? If you don't, you need to make it so.
Do that before you move on to the fuel delivery system (fuel pump/carburetor).
As I stated earlier, I believe that you are chasing two separate issues. You need to make sure the timing is properly set before you proceed any further.
Is is a challenge to avoid jumping ahead looking for the mysterious gremlin, but it will only cause you more frustration if you don't stick to the plan.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, I'm thinking I'm chasing more than one gremlin, and I do think it's possible that timing is off, but so far the "off" timing is the only timing that has allowed it to run. When I got it running today it was set slightly advanced, 10 or 12 degrees BTDC, I left it that way. Each day has been similar, try to get it started, try to make certain it is in time, checking for TDC, rotor pointed at #1, etc. This isn't my first go around with this stuff so it's frustrating when "normal " doesn't work but "abnormal" does, and is it really that "abnormal" is working but isn't quite right or is it that "abnormal" is really "normal" and there's a problem somewhere else. Ahhh, I dunno, I'm just really frustrated at this point.
