Thanks to everyone for your guidance and support. Was able to successfully sort out and rebuild the carbs on my CB350F. I now finally have this little jewel of a bike running like she should. Never thought it would happen, but thanks to all of you I have one sweet machine. What a relief. I was finally able to let myself spend some time polishing her now that I know she’s now going to run well.
For the rebuild I followed the Honda factory service manual. I used 4 Honda float valve sets p/n 16011-329-004 as well as 4 of carb gasket sets p/n 16010-333-315. It was $150 total for all 4 kits! Carbs were cleaned ultrasonically (not by me) and were a pleasure to rebuild. All I had to do was minimal cleaning (way inside the carbs).
I checked all orifices using a magnifying glass (these carbs sure are small). I also double-checked cleanliness by squirting every air or fuel orifice with Brakekleen (green can) and then compressed air. I then final-checked orifices again, gently, with a wire or a small pick to ensure complete cleanliness.
I checked the floats for “floatation” by soaking them overnight in gas to see if they sunk. During reassembly I paid particular attention to the float pins to ensure they were straight and true and that they slid smoothly into place. I also checked the floats for smooth operation with zero binding through their travel. (I did have to use a float pin from my spare set of carbs).
After that I gently blew out the carbs again with compressed air and carefully reinstalled everything with all new rubber seals and then measured floats as listed here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=24311.0 (thanks Bodie). I installed the float bowls and then carefully set the chokes to open/shut simultaneously. I also paid particular attention to set evenly the height of all 4 slides exactly the same.
I also got some tiny vacuum tubing from Honda and installed it to replace the cracked old black vinyl tubes between carbs 1&2 and 3&4, as I reattached the carbs to the rack.
I cleaned air box and manifold externals but paid particular attention to internal sealing portion of intake rubber parts. For appearance I also cleaned all clamps with solvent and a wire brush and then polished them along with any other metal part that should be“polished” with Blue Coral metal polish.
I then reinstalled the carbs and opened the petcock, but was taken aback slightly when 2 of the carbs started leaking out the overflow tubes. But I then remembered where y'all told me to tap the bowls to loosen sticking floats (at the bottom of their travel in dry carbs) and it worked. No leaking carbs and she runs nearly like a top. She idled down solidly to 1200 RPM.
Only two issues now are:
1.) when she’s warm and from a standstill there is a slight bogging right off the line (only under 2000 RPM).
2.) need to find someone good locally with a monometer to now help me synch these carbs on the bike.
