Gti 16V wont turn

[Nino]

Hi guys, my cousin has posted this before a while back but we have done some more testing..
His mk2 golf gti 16v (KR engine) wont turn since head gasket replacement.
Symptoms: Turn the key, and it either clicks, or makes a quiet surge sound and resets the clocks.

Weve replaced and tested the starter - ITS NOT THE STARTER.
Weve changed batteries - ITS NOT THE BATTERY.
The thing wont even turn, so please dont say check plugs and leads etc because it wont even get that far.
Weve tried running a lead to the starter straight from the battery just in case its faulty from the key. Same thing happens.

It seems as if the starter is trying to turn something that wont turn so its draining power.
The engine will turn off the crank by hand, so its not jammed against valves.
Baffled.
Please help, cheers guys.

[clipperjay]

Compression?
So it doesn't even crank at all?
Sounds like Electrical
Checked that coil and imoboliser is not engaged or crossed wires?
Check you have 12V to the starter when ignition is turning over?
Check all relays and fuses?
check for all electrical contacts earths around the block itself!

[mk2bal]

It must turn over by hand then, as you've refitted the head and cambelt? You must have turned it over via the 19mm multipoint bolt on the crank pulley I assume to time up tdc, (proving with long shaft down cyl 1 + notch on flywheel) then turned the top over to tdc (with cam cover off proving the two cam dots are at quarter to three position/tdc, and that the pulley outer mark confirms this). If both top and bottom are bang on tdc when belt tensioned you shouldn't have a problem. If you have fitted belt a few teeth out or somehow filled a cylinder it may be locked out, and stall current on starter motor is drawing all your amps. Go back to basics with it all, static timing 1st I reckon

[Simeon]

Have you tried it with the plugs out?

[The Mighty Elvi]

Have you tried bum starting it?

[clipperjay]

Have you tried bum starting it?

[Nino]

The car is timed, tdc and everything. We havent yet tryed bump starting it, my cuz does not want to do that.

Today, we plan to test the starter motor off the car, then test it on the car but off a spare battery to eliminate mechanical resistance. Does anybody know which terminals need to be crossed with the positive in order for the pin to come out AND turn... so far weve only got it to spin when bench testing.
cheers guys

[Diamond Hell]

Take the plugs out and try turning it over.

The last one like this I dealt with was where the K-Jet had been bumped (easy to do) and had kindly filled up the cylinders with petrol on the first starting attempt, then locked the engine. 

[Nino]

I did try that before mate, but ill try again with all plugs out yes? Also, what if it is filled, what will happen?

[Diamond Hell]

Let's put it this way, I wouldn't want to be standing in front of the engine with a lit fag when the motor's turned over. 

Yes, all plugs out.

Check your earths, duplicate, or replace if in doubt.