Starting with the carbs installed on the bike, make sure that all lines, cables and manifolds are installed properly with the band clamps tightened securely.
Start by turning the idle mixture screws in (clockwise) to the stop, NOT TOO TIGHT!, then back off 3/4 to 1 turn. Loosen up the cable adjustment lock nut and adjust each throttle cable with the knurled knob until the cables have about 1/16" (.062) free play. This is an excellent time to check your throttle cables. Look at both ends of the cable and inspect for wear, fraying or broken strands. If it looks suspicious, replace it; you don't want to be stuck in Austin, NV with a broken cable.
The adjustments so far will put your carbs in the ballpark so you can start your engine (we hope). Warm the engine by running around the block a couple of times (not you, the bike). The Carb Stix is a nifty little tool that is made from some plastic tubing and glass pipe filled with mercury. The plastic tubes are connected to the little vacuum taps, located under the carbs close to the idle mixture screw. (Some models have plastic hoses attached, earlier models had screws plugging the ports.)
I have a hook, permanently attached to the top of my garage door so that I can hang the Carb Stix to it when the door is open. With the Carb Stix hooked up (Hilary says the bike looks like it's receiving an intravenous drip) and the box fan set in front of the engine, start the fan and engine.
Check the idle speed on the tach. It should be between 900 and 1100 RPM's. Adjust by turning the idle screws on each carb equally, keeping the mercury levels even. Turn each idle mixture screw in and out to find the highest level of mercury and the smoothest idle. To adjust the throttle cables, raise the engine speed a little and watch the mercury to see that it rises evenly. Adjust by turning the knurled adjusting knobs in or out so that the mercury levels are equal. Recheck the idle speed and then recheck the idle mixture. Don't leave the engine idling for more than 10 minutes at a time or we will have to learn how to "rebuild your engine" as another tech topic. Now take it out and play with it! See you at Shelter Cove, there might be a test on the above.
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