I'm happy to report that the combination tearing down and cleaning the carbs, converting to the Dyna 2000 ignition, and installing new Dyna coils did the trick. The bike purrs like a kitten better than ever before. Part of the reason it's purring better is because I never bench synced the carbs and they were pretty badly out of sync.
I caught this thread a little late, but glad to see you've got it all sorted and running well
You might want to install a small inline filter($1.50) and keep it in place for 1,000 miles or so until you've run enough gas through your tank and carbs to clear out some of that varnish. Running only on choke and dying when using throttle sounds more like clogged jets than anything else. A couple good rides then, bam!...problems, is usually how these things arise. Flowing fuel through a tank and lines that have been sitting for x amount of months while the bike is put together
Never ship a crank with the advancer stud in it..
Did it once. Never again
The bent timing shaft must be the stud that holds the Dyna ignition rotor
It is and I've bent it back and it's ok now, not contacting anything. I tried to find a replacement because it came back badly bent with my crankshaft but to no avail.
Yes....that part has been discontinued.
Davidsilverspares had them, even though they are discontinued by US Honda. Cost me about $20 total(including shipping to U.S.)