Next time before trying to start, press and hold down the STOP/PRIME BUTTON until you hear the fuel pump click and then when the clicking slows down or stops, then push the START button. This will fill the carb bowl with gas and should start.
Honda has an anti theft device installed in the radio. If someone steals your radio it won't work for them when they power it back up until they put in the proper "radio code". That is what you are doing, you are switching off the power to the radio...
Try the primer button before trying to start. The primer button is the same as the stop button. Just push and hold down the Stop/prime and listen for the fuel pump to click and hold down until the clicking slows down, usually 15 to 20 seconds, This f...
You don't want to take HWY 36, very narrow and tight turns. Take Hwy 20 instead, you go through Willits on 101 and catch hwy 20 near Ukiah and go over to Williams and catch I 5.Note top off fuel in Willits, Safeway has fuel on 101 at hwy 20
just a suggestion in case you haven't thought of it, make sure the slide goes in and out freely before replacing the motor. It sounds like you were able to operate the slide manually so might not be a problem, but something made that motor blow up, d...