Done Cleaning Carbs

I cleaned the carbs on my XJ 550 RJ. However, I did not check during disassemble how many turns the pilot jets were out. I know that this was not smart. The Clymer manual says that they are set at the factory and can not be changed however obviously this bike has had the carbs off before and no seals over the pilot jets. How many turns out would be a good starting point? What would be better having it run too lean or to rich? I know that I will need to sync the carbs but I would like to get them back on the bike and at least fire it up to see it run for the first time since I bought it.

 

General rule is two turns out and adjust from there

And remember, a vacuum sync is the very last thing you do.

 

It's far better to run RICH than it is to run LEAN.

A Lean Condition means the Mixture is a Fast-burning and HOT Combustion.
Aluminum cannot tolerate being vastly over-heated!

A catastrophic failure causing permanent damage may result from running critically Lean.

 

STOP.

The most important adjustment here is the float levels. Once those have been WET verified, using fuel and clear tubing; then you move onto a bench sync. Float levels: http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf Be sure you follow the Mikuni specs.

However, if you didn't REMOVE said pilot screws, clean the passages, and replace their tiny o-rings, then you need to do that first.

Here's a Mikuni like yours, broken down for "basic" service (not pulling the throttle shafts http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31061.html

After precisely setting the float levels and doing as accurate of a bench sync as you can, you return the carbs to the bike for the running vac sync.

It already sounds like you're trying to "shortcut" the process, and that won't work.

Valves in spec? Because if they aren't, forget the vac sync until they are.