Carbs again

My 1981 XJ650 has been sitting for two years outside

Got her a new battery and as much as she tries the eingine will not catch.
Checked I have fuel gettiing out of the tank and when I take the spark plugs out they are dry no sign of fuel there at all.

So I am asuming the fuel is not getting through the carbs. I have looked at some of the advice given in previous posts (and there is loads )
But I was just wondering before I take them out. What mistakes have other people had working on carbs and what would you have done differently.

Cheers

 

Use carb drain screws to see if fuel is in the float bowls.
Have petcock on PRI (prime).

Goto XJ FAQ Suggestions.

Clean the carbs following Rick's guide.
Bench sync following my guide.
Sync with engine going Rick's or my guide.
Colourtune.
See also Rick's "Free YICS tool for all", clothesline and Marvel Mistery Oil tool.

 

You have already missed the biggest mistake. Not asking for advice first. Some go right into the carbs and ask us after the carbs are back on and the engine won't start. The second mistake is to not "STUDY" before hand and really know the carbs, the parts, their location and basic operation, then develope a game plan on how to start and "Finish". I would also list the most common screw-ups such as mangling the jets trying to remove them with a poor fitting screwdriver, not diagraming the choke rod and it's parts in the correct order, not keeping the parts associated with the carb body they came out of, and setting the diaphraghms on their side and warping them.
All of which can be avoided by following the carb cleaning guides after studying them first. also remember that there are no dumb questions here. Anything asked will get a valid response so that no matter how elementary you will know what to and not to do and why.