Getting frustrated, needed to vent

1982 XJ550 Cheap non-runner. I took the carbs off disassembled and cleaned every nook and cranny. Put the carbs back on after bench sync and 2.5 turned up from bottom on the pilot screws. It ran, but not good. Decided I would put in fresh oil before proceeding. Unscrewed the drain plug and the little magnet was covered with metal filings. AAARRRGGG! It just so happened that I had picked up another engine also on the cheap so I pulled it's drain plug and it was spotless. Ordered some extra parts for the carbs. Gaskets for the choke/starter plungers and gaskets and washers for the pilot screws. I had already put in the K&L carb kits. Also put in the nipples to measure float levels. Put everything back together with brand new stainless steel allen screws to replace the bunged up phillips heads. Got the engine installed and reinstalled the carbs. As I'm sitting here venting I realize that I never checked the numbers on the main or pilot jets and I hoping that the PO had not changed them. I'm going to drop the $70 bucks for the Colortune setup come next payday.
The bike runs but won't idle for more than a couple minutes. As soon as I got it started, oil was dripping from about three locations; drain plug, oil filter and valve cover. Luckily the valve cover gasket from the other engine was good. The others I replaced with new from good old Partzilla. No more leaks. Compression is 132 - 135 - 135 - 132. The valves were all within spec. and the timing is right on the money. Carbs are synchronized using my old eco-unfriendly mercury based unit that I had for working on my Corvairs many years ago. Thank goodness my old Virago just keeps plodding along. Ok, now I feel better. Time for dinner.

 

what do you mean by wont idle ? stalls or climbs?

 

Idles for a minute or two then stalls. Almost like it's starving for fuel, but if you tweak the throttle it will jump back to life. New carb boots and no change with the propane test. New needle and seats are working fine. I can leave it all night with the fuel on (Aux tank) and no leaks. Fuel level right where it should be in the float bowls. If you adjust the main idle speed up it will settle down about 3K and sit for some time without dying. Also new pins for the float bowls and polishing compound inside the hinge area with and old pin chucked into my dremel to make sure the floats rotate easily don't stick. I hate it, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull the carbs again and check the numbers on the jets.