Which comes first?

First off, I apologize for the hard to read single block of text but I can't figure out how to start a new paragraph using this BBCode. Please feel free to let me in on the secret. (i did try the enter key FWIW) So after a couple year hiatus I finally re-cleaned my carbs and re-installed. Of course they leaked like a sieve but after I replaced the o-rings on the fuel line (thanks Len) They are dry and tight. [p]Now... I have been fighting a long long battle with fouling plugs at idle, usually within 60 seconds or so. I thought my carbs were clean enough but evidently I was wrong. I tried something different this time and seem to have met with great success, or at least the bike now idles, though lumpily, for as long as I leave the switch in the run position. The only thing I could figure that was leaking excess fuel into the airstream was the enrichment circuit. I couldn't understand why though because they were all SPOTLESS and bottomed out. This time, however, when I had the carbs apart I actually re-seated all four plungers using a paste of baking soda and water. Just like you would seat the valves in your cylinder head. Go figure... it must have worked. [/p][p]So, now that it's idling, what do I do first. Synch the carbs or adjust the pilot screws? They each throw the other off but which is more important to fix first? The carbs are currently bench synched. BTW, in order to hold 1100 rpm idle with the mixture screws out 2.5 turns the idle adjust screw is bottomed out. Which way do you turn the pilot screws to increase idle rpm's? [p]As always, thanks to you all for getting me this far!

 

evidently

its

just a

firefox

thing...

sorry

 

What comes first is getting your valves in spec.

Then individually verifying each carbs float levels with fuel and clear tubing.

Vacuum sync is done at first with all the mixtures set the same. If you then make any significant mixture changes, it pays to go back and re-do the vacuum sync.

 

did the valve clearances last year... haven't put any real mileage on the new shims yet because the leaky enrichment circuits were fouling the plugs so badly. I also checked the float levels last time I had the carbs together and everything was spot on. Also checked the rear brake shoes and everything else necessary for a safe ride. I just have to get the carbs tuned and we should be good to go.

 

Sounds to me like your floats are hi or leaking by or your petcock is bad and leaking fuel thru the vac hose. You can tell if its the floats by taking a pair of vise scripts start it up clamp off the fuel line about 30 sec to a min it should smooth out. You should not run it at all if it is flooding also smell your crankcase oil see if it smells like gas. If it was me i would fix the floats before if they are hi or leaking by. And if your petcock is not working perfectly your asking for a major disaster. What good is all the work of a valve adjustment if your crankcase is filling with gas and your oil gets so thin it locks up when you try to test ride it afterwards. Don't get me wrong because valve adjustment is very important and you won't be able to sync your carbs right without it. The only way you will have a lumpy idle thru the choke system is if 1 of the plungers is stuck in the up position easy to see turn the choke on note the position and shut it off you can tell if they are seated. I am not trying to sound like an old maid but in the 30 years i have been wrenching on motorcycles i have seen way to many engines ruined because of gas problems like that. And i would not like to see a perfectly good xj get ruined.