Carb problems - Running problems

I am posting this because i now have my bike running GREAT. I had been in these forums searching for answers - so i am posting this for others who are having problems:

I have a 1983 Maxum 750. I got it in bad shape, and have replaced many parts and now have it running real well. The guy i got it from had rebuilt the carbs three times trying to get it to run better. the bike would not start without a ton of choke. it would not idle at all, unless i had it reved up about 2,000 RPM. it would stall at the lights unless i cracked the throttle a bit while i sat there. once it got movinig it was OK. I could reach under and idle twist the idle adjustment in and out a few turns only to get a slight change, then all of the sudden the bike was racing at 4,000 rpm. I assumed the guy had not rebuilt the carbs right, or forgot some parts, or some other problem. I tried syncing the carbs numerous times, tried fuel system cleaner, and just constant idle adjusting.

Last week i got the bike out and started to get it ready for the riding season. I was out on the road and heard a chirping sound. it got worse the next day, and then started to get real loud. From years of playing with cars I knew the sound was a vacumme leak. I suspected the sound was coming from the area where the outside carb boot has the vacumme line that runs to the gas tank to keep the fuel flow open. I suspected the vacumme hose, or the fuel outlet - but when i pulled that hose off the noise stopped. I gave the areas i thought were a proble a shot of engine start ether and when i sprayed the back of the boot i knew my problem. When put my finger over that vacumme fitting on the carb boot the noise was loud and i knew it was the boot.

I pulled the carbs (a very not fun job) and pulled the carb boot and there was the problem. Someone had pulled them and used silicone sealant where the original gasket had failed. there were two problems. one some of the original gasket was still there, and two the silicone was crap and not appliction specific in my opinion. Once i pulled that first boot, i knew i needed to pull them all.

I took off all four boots, cleaned the mounting surfaces of the boots and the engine. I used some Permatex Ultra Copper RTV Silicone sealant which i had in my garage - Permatex says it's good for up to 700 degrees. When i tightened up the carb boots back on the engine, i ran my finger inside to make sure there wasn't any silicone squeezing out. Got the carbs back on the bike, and got the tank back on.

When i started the bike up it was like night and day. Bike cranked and started running right off - and a nice steady idle. It will now sit and idle for 10 minuets, when before it would die after a minuet or two! I still need to do some fine tuning like get the carbs synced up and the check the idle pilot adjustments - but the bike runs GREAT. I can feel more power from the engine just because its running better. pulls the wheel up in first gear and the 1-2 gearshift. I used to get 45MPG and i bet i do better than that now.

Anyway, that's my story. hope it helps someone....