How do I go about tuning my carbs?

I have a 1986 xj700. It starts and runs great at operating temp, but on a cold start it takes forever to fire up. What could be the issue here? Even when warm, it's fires up in like a second. But I have to fight it cold. Please help! Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

It sounds like its not getting spark, not getting fuel or getting too much fuel. If it has a vacum operated petcock, you want to make sure it IS shutting gas off when not running. If you squirt gas in carbs does it start cold? Is there gas in your oil? If carbs flood it could put gas in oil.

 

Click on xjforever top right of this page, information overload, but "church of clean" is all about carbs, and issues caused by dirty carbs. Specifically, the float bowls have tiny jets for cold starting, the idle circuit is tiny, the passages get clogged, etc etc. As a beginner, I would not recommend you strip to replace butterfly shaft seals, because quite simply this is a serious amount of work, that is easy to screw up. Sure, shrivelled up seals can cause idle issues if your spindles are worn, but it's not a big deal, and better to be riding than asking here for help with something you caused rather than a mechanical fault.
Do the shaft seals in the winter...