Xj550 wont idle am I on the right track?

Just bought a 82 Maxim XJ550 13,000 miles but wont idle worth a darn. needs the choke to start every time after it starts it idles at 1100 then slows down and dies then when you start it up it idles at 2k (it seems to rev up pretty good). Intake boots look a little rough so I orderd new boots and carb rebuild kits. just wanted to get some imput to see if im on the right track or am I missing something. Got the carbs off but have not taken them apart yet.
I am also going to check the valve adjustment while im at it.
Im trying to go thru this bike and get it ready for spring.

 

You are on the right track. Go through the carbs , check and clean everything.
Carb slides- clunk test, check diaphrams for holes
Jets and emulsion tubes- clean
Carb passages- clean
float levels- set them right
bench sync
Don't forget to replace the throttle shaft seals
Search the site on carb rebuilding there is lots more.

 

Replacing Throttle Shaft Seals is a Restoration and Overhaul procedure requiring "Spliting-the-rack" and Complete disassembling of each of the Carbs.

The Rack can be simply CLEANED without replacing the Shaft Seals and treating all the Seals with a dual Cleaner~Rejuvenator.

If you know the Seals require replacement you've got to do the Full Monte'
Replace the Seals.

A thorough Cleaning is far less labor intensive and enough to tackle the first time around.

But there is a marvelous .pdf that will walk you through it done with directions and illustrations.

C:\carb breakdown\wordperfect\carb breakdown3.wpd

 

how do you know if the shaft seals are bad? I really didnt want to dig this far into it unless i have to.

 

Don't.

There is really no way to positively determine if they are bad or not; you can pop the clips and washers and look at the OUTER pair. If they're shot, then you can assume the others likely are as well.

If the outer pair are ok, then the rest of them might be but could also be bad; like I said there's no real way to check.

The only way to be certain is to get everything else done, get the bike all back together with everything else right, and then test for a vacuum leak around the throttle shaft areas.

For now, if the outer two are OK, just get everything else done (valves, carb cleaning, float levels, bench sync.)

 

Is it normal for the shaft seals to come in a rebuild kit or do you have to buy them seperate.

 

No. And be careful, there are a lot of bogus Mikuni parts out there.

There are various stages of "rebuild kit" depending on NEED.

Tear down, clean, inspect and diagnose; then order the necessary parts. Be very afraid of cheapo "rebuild kits."

Check with XJ4Ever (logo/link in site banner upper right) for the correct parts, especially throttle shaft seals.

Here's a Mikuni exploded and photographed; but I did NOT pull the throttle shaft. Pulling throttle shafts on the Mikunis requires filing off the staked-over ends of the original butterfly screws which is why this is not something that's done unless necessary. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31061.html