I was patient on ebay, and I found an 87 set for $33. When I got them they were clean, but when I took the top covers off I noticed the diaphragms weren't in the best shape. There was a 1/4" tear in the 1 cyl carb, and the others looked like they were pinched at one time or another.
When I priced new ones
I fixed the cracks with some Yamabond. Yes, it worked, and saved me the cost of a new set of carbs. Just for ease of installation I warmed the insulators up with a heat gun a bit, applied some Petroleum Jelly to the inside and forced them on. With them lined up as close as possible the outside ones were really close, but the inside ones had about 4 mm to move. Eventually I got them on, cranked down the clamps (must do, they leak if not really tight) and tried firing her up. After a bit of cranking, it's running. There I stopped for the night.
The next day I installed the new cable ends I got from Flanders Co. It's just a small brass fitting that you just solder onto the cable after you cut it to length. I had to take about an inch off the choke, then about 2 off the pull cable. I let her warm up a bit, then on the centerstand went through the gears. Stayed running, slides worked together, and it idled ok. Shut down, installed the Wideband O2 sensor, and took her back out. Idle was REEEEEALLLY lean, 15.5:1. Just off idle accelerating in the single digits was about 14:1. Held about 11 to 12 to 1 when mildly accelerating at highway speeds. Then I tried a full WOT pull in 4th. Stayed at 10:1 all the way up to 85. Understandable because even though with pods the jets that came with are 38 pilots and 136 mains. When I get some more time I'm gonna take that main down to 120, and take the pilots out to 40.
When I get back home I'll take pics of anyone's interested. I did have to make pod extensions for the middle filters out of 2" radiator hose and 2" exhaust pipe because the carbs are too close to fit them right next to each other. It is a pretty clean install. I don't see how my stock airbox could be used because of the spacing, but whatever. I like the pods better anyway.
