need help diagnosing run issues after timing belt change
 

the facts: 88 Accord 5spd, carbureted. -car belongs to roommate- Been parked in garage since water pump went bad sometime around last January.
Replaced timing belt, tensioner, water pump, etc. Double checked everything. Tensioned t-belt as per Helms' instructions then manually rotated engine 8 more times just to be 'sure'. Timing marks all okay. replaced all the misc. pieces and parts etc. Put a bit of fresh gas in the carb & fired it up. ( roomie insisted nothing more was necessary). Ran 20-25 seconds at high idle- sounded ok- then rpms dropped until it died.
Won't restart. (tried w/both gasoline and starting fluid)
Has spark at all the plugs, fuel going to carb. Engine turns over -(to my ear just a bit slower than it should..)
What am I missing? or, maybe, what should I be looking for or at?
Some HELP, advice, suggestions- any/all MUCH appreciated!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Be sure spark is good (weak spark can also cause no-start). The fact it won't start w/ added gas or starter fluid suggests weak spark. I like to use a timing light flash to insure the spark is firing in the compressed air of the cylinder. No flash= no fire.

Check whether fuel is coming out of fuel jet in the carb. The float needle valve could be stuck closed.

A good battery charge and clean/tight battery connections are necessary also.

good luck

Are you sure the head gasket isn't leaking? Water in the cyl can cause slow crank...it does not compress. Pull the plugs and see if it turns over at a better speed.

WP went bad? Hot hot did it get?

and poorman212, thanks for responding! AND
 

I have more to say to both of you:

TexasHonda,
could you please elaborate on using a timing light in the manner you mentioned? I know there's a way- but I need details ( drawing me a picture would be overkill but I would love a detailed step by step, if you would be so kind and can spare the time!)
regarding the strength of the spark, at this point I have to rely on the roomies' description-he says it's strong....I know I'd be better off seeing it myself but I have to wait until he gets home later. Battery connections/terminals excellent, as is the cca of both (I have two available} batteries.

Funny, but last night it seemed to me that the engine seemed to be turning over just the tiniest bit slow- I brought it up to the roomie but he went into instant denial...but could I have been right -naah, I'm fair certain I was right. But I'm also fair certain it was turning over fast enough to start-IF the spark was adequate.
That said, it's possible I can manage the timing light unaided-maybe! (picture a big grin here-laughing at self, feel free to join in}.
Anyways, thanks again for your reply-spark strength definitely something I will double- check.

poorman212
-It didn't get real hot-the pump, as it failed, made enough noise to be heard by the hearing-impaired. The car was parked before it failed completely. And, (because I'm a bit anal-retentive when it comes to working on cars), I did a compression check prior to the tear-down; all four cylinders were within a 10 lb psi range (that was weeks and weeks ago-- not sure but I seem to remember something like 145 +/_ 10)
At any rate, you did bring up a good point and I thank you, again, for taking the time to respond to my post.

You guys ROCK!

Halleluja!!!! Whoopee!! YES!!!!!
 

I douched the carb thoroughly w/ spray carb cleaner when I got home from work today-and over the next few hours three more times. Roomie got home, I checked a few things and tried starting the car. Well, (eventually!) IT STARTED!!! And ran....

THANKS SO MUCH TEXASHONDA AND POORMAN212 FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP ME!!!