Maxim X carbs

My 1985 Maxim X idles rough and has a dead spot when cranking the throttle just off idle.

This has the Mikuni carbs. I removed them all and completely disassembled and soaked them in carb cleaner. Then I blew out all orifices with compressed air. This usually fixes the problem of bad idle.

Replaced the carbs and synched them. Still idles rough and has a dead spot. Noticed the spark plug caps were arcing to the head at idle. Siliconed them and it helped but still not running perfect.

Any ideas? I'm thinking float bowl levels? Any way to calibrate the float levels?

The bike only has about 8k miles on it.

 

The dead spot coming off-idle is all in the Pilot Mixture Tuning.

That dead spot could be either too Lean or too Rich.

A glance at your four Spark Plugs will solve the mystery in short order.
Since you said "Dead Spot" and NOT "Bogging" ... I'll guess that you haven't got the Pilot Mixtures RICH enough to sustain Ignition until the Main Jet Supply kicks in.

You can't be too far out of whack.
If the Plugs are looking CLEAN upon inspection ... Adjust the Pilot Mixture Screws Out ---> A LITTLE BIT!

A little bit is a TWEAK.
A TWEAK is about the width of a Nickel.
About 3 degrees.
That's all.

Commence Fine-tuning by means of Plug Chops.
Keep an eye on you Plugs and TWEAK the Mixture Screws for a Dark Tan on the Plugs.

Adjust EACH Hole independently of all others.
If a Hole looks LEAN ... Tweak it Out.
If a Hole looks RICH ... Tweak it In.

Keep a Log of what you are doing until the Plug Chop Tuning is done.
Once you get the Plugs right ... you are in the window of Fine Tuning.

An acceptably Lean Mixture will give you Hard Acceleration and Intense Engine Braking.

A Rick Mixture will give you velvety-smooth acceleration and moderate engine COASTING>

You can TWEAK the Holes for the way you need them for any particular Riding Conditions.
If you are hitting the road for a long-haul ... you want 'em on the Rich side to ride smooth and coast when you get off it.

If you are going Head Hunting and want Sport Bike Performance ... Tweak them on the Lean Side for the explosive power in acceleration and engine brbaking for the sweepers and turns.

 

Thanks for responding Rick. The only carb adjustment I can think of is the 3 screws that synch the carbs, which control the how far the butterflies open in relation to each other. Is this the adjustment you're talking about or is there another one? If so, where are the adjustment screws?

Also, if it was considered a "bogging" could it be something different?

Thanks

 

The Pilot Mixture Screws are located here:



They may have small brass plugs covering them up.

 

Notice the Ultra Fine Thread on the body of the Pilot Mixture Screw.

The Ultra Fine Thread is used because the correct placement is within a very narrow window of Tuning.

Once you have established the position of the screw to obtain a steady Idle; the optimum setting ... where additional Fuel is metered to sustain Ignition inn the brief moment before the Main Jet Supply is delivered ... is just a few degrees of turning the screw more Rich.