Tr25w Push Rods

Hi and Merry Christmas to all biker nuts.
I'm a newbie here so excuse me if I break any codes. I have a TR25W which I potter about on, along with a 1980 1100 Gold Wing. Well, I did till about 3 weeks ago when, banking to turn left the engine suddenly lost power and sounded 'asthmatic' and faint. I thought it felt like a seizure so whipped in the clutch (2 stroke training you see) and pulled in.
After cooling, the kick-start seemed strange but had compression, I thought. I tried a few kicks but it wouldn't start.
I have completely stripped the engine down and nothing is apparent till I got to put the rocker cover/rockers back.; I checked the rods were located either end (a stupid design if you are not a surgeon as it's very fiddly) and then checked the gaps. Wow - about 1/4 inch at least with adjustment fully open. They will not close to the adjustment needed. Have I missed something before I strip it again or may I have hit on the cause of the problem? Both of the push-rods appear OK and no loose metal detected in the old oil. Before fitting they looked OK but I did not test their straightness by rolling them.
Any ideas?

 

Thanks for that "SprintDave"
Are both rods the same length? I went back and stripped the top end and took out the rods. One is coded red at the top and one is coded black. The black one is slightly longer and is the inlet rod and leans to the rear of the block. I had them the wrong way round! With fingers like 1/2lb pork sausages and a shake to brush your teeth with, it wasn't easy!!
You're right about the Starfire too Dave. I know someone who told me he would have a Starfire but not the Trophy! "Ahm BSA through and through, I am" he said. Whichever one you have, I think they look and sound great and fab for trailing, especially with the reinforced handlebars and semi-knobblies! They look every bit the desert sleds they were designed for the USA market for.
PS. I also love my GL1100 for entirely different reasons, though I'm also now restoring a 1928 girder forked Triumph for different reasons again, none of which are speed, obviously. 250 = fun. 1100 = comfort. 500 = engineering respect!