Alright well I rechecked the valves finding compression like you told me and I must have had it wrong cause the exhaust valve was way too loose. Got them both to .002 and closed it back. Threw the mikuni back on, changed the plug to an ngk. Kind of doing the same thing. Checked the carb to head gasket thing and it looks fine.
Looking around for more loose stuff or anything that can cause an air leak and found a dodgy looking situation where the exhaust bolts to the engine but maybe that's normal? not all the way seated but....
So I can get it to putter still and I got it to fire up twice but shit is smoking and it's backfiring and the exhaust is heating way up... It will not start with the choke on at all so is it running super rich??? Confused. Here's a video, first part is me trying to start it and puttering, second part is the smoking mess it is when it's fired up. First time it starts it rattles cause of all the shit I have on top of it.
What would be the best way for me to check if the timing is 180 degrees off?
Thanks y'all. I really appreciate it.