hard starting

I'm after ideas.
bike is an 04 TE450 with about 4000km
I recently fitted new stainless steel valve and the heavier springs that Halls recomended and a new set of piston rings.
When the bike finally starts if goes like a dog shot in the arse.
It is a bitch to start though
It wont crank over compression without using the compression release lever, previously I never used to use the manual decompressor.
It has a new battery
I have had a look inside the starter, its like new.
I have checked the cam timing, valve clearance (on the loose side)
New spark plug and has a wicked blue spark when I test it.
Inspected the automatic decompressor hits the lifter okay.
To get it running yesterday I had to tip a tablespoon of fuel down the plug hole.
Suggestions anyone?

I'm assuming that's a good thing?

Have you verified it experimentally?



Obviously sounds like the compression's higher than before so I guess the question is whether it was lower than it should have been before and is now normal, or whether something's wrong now. It does sound like something's not right, but maybe someone with that model can confirm how hard they normally are to start. Hope you get it sorted soon as it must be a real PITA (especially for the dog).

its runs fine

Idles okay
Has no flat spot
Goes as well or better than it ever has.
I'm pretty sure I have two problems.
The choke is not enriching either at all or not enough for a cold start and its always been a cold blooded bike.
If you tip some fuel down the plug hole it starts okay but the starter wont crank it over compression without using the decomp and even then not all the time.
The valves were shimmed to a loose clearance so as well as pulling the carb and checking the choke circuit I will get a shim kit so I can adjust the valves right on the 0.006" and 0.008" and see how that goes