TwoTired,
Thanks yet again. Would you advise totally dismantling the carbs from each other for the next cleaning?
You're welcome. And, no, I don't think so. I haven't encountered carbs that couldn't be cleaned while still assembled in the bank. But, then, I have not seen your carbs. It is significantly more work and requires a higher degree of finesse to dismantle, then reassemble and properly adjust all the linkages if you do. I would certainly not attempt such with out first having gasket sets for all the carbs and the interlinking tubes. The 77-78 cb550k carbs are more difficult to separate than earlier models. The choke butterflies have peened screws on a shaft common to two carbs. I don't see what advantage separating the carbs will buy you unless it is necessary the chemical dip them.
I keep getting this funny feeling my floats aren't perfect in measurement.
Why do you think this is?
It's amazing that the human mind could conceive of all these tubes and parts working in synch to fuel the engine.
Well, carburetors weren't conceived this way. They evolved. You know in the same way grass huts evolved into skyscrapers. I can assure you there isn't anything there that isn't needed. The systems are there in response to some requirement in engine performance. Also, you only need to understand how one of the carbs work, as the other three are just copies.
Perhaps it will help if you imagine the carbs supply not just fuel, but a combustible mixture of atomized fuel and air. The carburetor meters both as well as controls the total volume supplied to the cylinders.
I admire your willingness to learn something new. Rescuing neglected machines can be quite rewarding. The payoff of having it move you through the breeze because you made it work again can be adictive, though.