Carb rebuild kits - necessary, best price?

I've still got a lot to do on the bike (alternator brush checking tonight for another post) to find out why my bike is backfiring, but I'm thinking that eventually disassembling and cleaning the carbs is going to need to happen. I rebuilt a friend's Oldsmobile Omega carb a few years back, and the thing ran like a dream after.

My questions are

1. Is a rebuild kit always necessary? I suppose I'll order them anyway, because it'd suck to take them apart and have them sit there while a new kit is in the mail. Worst case I put them up for sale here.

2. What's the best price on theses kits? Searched the forum and found nothing, but I swear I saw a link to a place that had them for something like $17.50. I'm in Canada as well, so if you know anybody who's easy on the shipping charges that would be awesome. UPS will absolutely screw me on brokerage, I'd rather go USPS.
Thanks!

 

Google search for: OldBikeBarn

 

It's possible to Clean the Carbs and not even need anything other than a few cans of Carb Cleaner.

Sometimes; you pull-off the Float Bowls and see exactly what's causing you a performance problem. Evaporated Fuel contaminant. Varnish-like stuff that the Carb Cleaner will dissolve and clean without a fuss.

You might find a whole different matter; too. A situation requiring a Scrape-it-off situation.

You never know until you get in there and see!

 

I recently did my carbs, and did not get rebuild kits for them. I wish i would have. my only problem is after running, gas leaks out top of bowls. I didn't put new gaskets in, but should've I guess.

 

When I cleaned out my carbs last year, I didn't replace anything except the gasket. But I'm a cheap bum, so instead of buying them, I cut my own. It was a bit of a PITA, but so far no leaky.