Topic: cleaned my carbs.... but...

[hondaryder]

Well, I pulled my carbs today and cleaned them out. They weren't as bad as I thought they might be considering how long the gas sat in them (8-9 years). There was some blockage in a couple of the slow jets and one of the idle jets was also blocked. Cleaned them all out and re-installed the carbs on the bike.

Now here is the point that I don't get. The bike runs even worse than it did before I cleaned the carbs. Before, I could keep it running if I gave it a little throttle. Now it won't stay running for more than about 3 seconds no matter how much choke or throttle I give it. I figured that by cleaning out the plugged orifices, things should only get better. Maybe not perfect, but better. I guess I was wrong.

[TwoTired]

Are you using the stock air filter and exhaust?

Have you vacuum syncronized the carbs?

Have you done all the other tune up items?

How did you adjust your IMS screws?

Do you have any intake runner vacuum leaks?

How do your spark plug deposits look?  Any difference between plugs?  What are your spark plug numbers?

Are all your head pipes the same temperature I.E. hot?

[750goes]

don't know the history on this...but with cleaning the idle jets....great.......did you also clean out the tank and make sure you are getting clean fuel into the carbs??

if not you may have just wasted your effort...

top down process
tank, tank/petcock filter, fuel line, inline fuel filter ?
all clean - proceed to step 2
clean carbs.........ALL JETS....not just the idle or air bleeds............check for free flowing fuel into each one, and make sure the float needle/jet works....floats roughly the same height or the same fuel volume in each??......proceed to step 3
reset ALL carb idle/mixture adjustment screws to standard settings - whatever they may be ......step 4
make sure all linkages are working properly, slides are working smoothly.... step 5
make sure all manifold clamps and inlet rubber boots are sealing properly...no cracks or looseness....step 6

if everything else is within reason .......timing/valves/spark/spark plugs/compression/clean air filter....it should start and run............good luck...keep at it

[liaudio]

Your message was a little vague. 

Follow up to 750goes and twotired's questions.  Otherwise, no one on this board will be able to help you.  Simply "cleaning" the carbs won't do anything unless it is done correctly and other things are checked/adjusted/rebuilt.

[736cc]

Its possible you installed the slides backwards (it can be done as the 1 and 2 slides are mirror images of 3 and 4). The cutaway is on the airbox side.
How would I know? Don't ask....

[hondaryder]

I got it running much better today. Not perfect, but it will idle now. One of the cylinders seems to running a little rich, but I still have to sync the carbs, which I can do now that it is running. It wasn't getting fuel. Once I solved that problem, she fired right up.