1982 Maxim 650 not getting fuel

1982 Maxim 650 - not getting fuel. (VIN 5N9 - 002151)
Hey guys, first post here on the forums so thanks for having me! I recently acquired a 1982 Maxim 650 in nice shape with 13'000 km's on it. It hasn't run in years (not sure how many) so I have been going about cleaning it and trying to get it started but at having trouble and it seems to be fuel related, here is where I am at:
-the previous owner had tinkered with it a bit and the air box was off and the only lines hooked to the carb is a main fuel line and past that the prime line to #3
- I took the carbs off took the floats and jets out and cleaned and sprayed them and the carbs out, I also dissasembled the top with the spring, slide and diaphram and cleaned them out as well. I sprayed the carb body and inside the best I could with carb clean (I don't have an air compressor at the moment) but left them together as the bank of 4. Everything is quite nice and clean and moves freely.
- reinstalled carbs.
- the fuel tank on the bike was quite rusty and the gas very old so I took the clean tank off of my Honda XL500 and hooked it up (leaving the prime line to the #3 cylender off)
- I put a new battery on the bike
- confirmed spark on all 4 spark plugs (3 are new and the same (I can check what make and model) one is used and in good shape)
- the bike turns over great when starter engaged but would not fire. I took the plugs out and sprayed some raw fuel into the cylenders and it fired right up then died, did that a couple times with the same result. I hooked up a syringe full of fuel to the prime line to #3 and could get it to run (just barely) on the #3 cylinder alone. I then took a little starter fluid and sprayed it near the carb inlets (the air box is still off so they are wide open) and could get it to run a little off the starter fluid alone but would not keep running.
- with no prime or starting fluid it does not want to fire at all
- I took the carbs back OFF the bike and removed the float bowls and hooked it to the fuel tank to make sure fuel was freely flowing to the bowls and it was.
- of note my garage temp was about 17c or 63f as I've heard these are tough starting cold
Anyway my guess is it's not getting fuel past the carb to the engine. Is there something I should pay special attention to when cleaning the carbs (do I need to disassemble them further?) at a bit of a loss at the moment! Sorry for the very long winded post and thanks in advance for any help!!

Ben

 

Yes.
http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/in-the-church-of-clean.14692/

Welcome to the camp!

 

Thanks very much, Stumplifter!

 

by prime line do you mean the vacuum line from carb boot to petcock? if that is what you mean put a plug into it it will make bike hard to start with it off and unplugged
it is to make the fuel flow through the vacuum operated petcock when motor starts.

 

From personal experience, I suggest that you follow the instructions in the church-of-clean listed by Stumplifter to the letter. Take plenty of time, check everything twice, and get right the first time. Pay special attention to the pilot and enrichment system. Get it all right and it starts easily--at least it does for me.