What are some possible reasons that the bike won't kickstart?

[Santaphylaxis]

I have a '74. I think I'm having some electrical problems, but that doesn't seem to explain why I can't kickstart it. I have only just begun to learn bikes, this query is just one among many other concurrent research tactics I'm employing while I try to get up and running again.

The bike was getting harder to start over the course of a few days, then it just wouldn't start one day, no matter what I did. Then, randomly, I was able to kickstart it. I went for a ride for long enough to charge the battery to the point where the starter worked, then later that day headed out for a long ride. I was just getting into 5th gear on the highway when I started to lose horsepower, the bike got boggy, and I had to downshift -- I barely had enough power to get to the shoulder, and by the time I did the bike was dead.

It was stuck in gear at first, but then I popped it out without pulling the clutch somehow. The battery was completely dead. I couldn't kick start it for about ten minutes, then it started up, I rode about half a mile and the same thing happened, only this time it hasn't started up since.

I've been researching like mad and trying to learn the systems, but there are some things I need to acquire before I can go further (like a multimeter). In the mean time, I'm asking for whatever advice some motorhead bored enough to read through all this might have for me...

I checked the plugs, they are blackened. The shop manual says this means the gas mixture is too rich. I don't know what this means. One of my carburetors leaks. There is gas in the bowls. When I try to kickstart it doesn't turn over at all -- it will sputter the first time and thereafter it flops for about the duration of the attempt. Somebody suggested that it might be a loose wire related to the kill switch, but I looked all over and I can't find any exposed wires. I don't think there is a clog in the gas tank.

Again, I realize this is quite a saga but as I say I'm trying to learn. I looked through other similar issues here and have gotten some ideas, but I wanted to post this about my specific situation. Any thoughts are much appreciated. Otherwise, safe rides and good travels!

[Santaphylaxis]

Here is a pic, by the way

[TOOLS1]

Nice looking bike. From what you have described it is either the carbs, or a weak coil. You can check the coil with a multimeter. Just follow the directions in the factory service manual (it can be downloaded for free from the manual section at the top of the home page here.) For the carbs since you say that they are leaking, they probably need rebuilt anyway, so that's where I would start.
TOOLS

[Santaphylaxis]

Awesome. I have been looking forward to rebuilding the carbs as my first deep bike project. Thank you for your thoughts.

[eric moon]

Hi Santa...
It could be electrical. Check all the connections on the bike by disconnecting and reconnecting all the connectors on the bike. It could be oxydation of the pins due to aging.
Fix the carbs. If they leak, something is wrong. Always fix the obvious first.
Good luck,
Eric

[Santaphylaxis]

OK, I will check out all the connections. I just got some good advice from somebody on how to get the carbs off, I've never done that before. Thank you!