Carbs not delivering fuel to engine

I have an 1982 Yamaha XJ550 Maxim with 27,000 miles. It is completely stock except for an aftermarket 4 into 1 exhaust system. When I purchased the bike it ran but only did so for about 10 minutes with the choke completely engaged before it died. So, I purchased a carb rebuild kit and proceeded to remove the carbs and strip them down as best I could without breaking the rack apart. I cleaned them with a pine sol soak, carb spray and compressed air. I was able to remove all of the screws, emulsion tubes and jets (except for 3 out of the 4 pilot jets were stripped out so I left them on and cleaned them as best I could).

My issue is, the bike will only run on my starter fluid (gas in a spray bottle), it appears as though the carbs aren't delivering fuel to the engine because the bowls are full but the plugs are bone dry after cranking. The bike has good spark and adequate compression. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

My motorcycle


Carbs as they are now

 

I think you need to connect the carb intake boots as minimum, as these bike dont like running without.

Have you examined and /or rebuilt fuel tap?

Not sure how clean you went with carbs, I didnt break the rack on mine and spent 2 months working on them, soon learnt how to dismantle and reasemble them quickly.

clean looking bike though, so worth perservering with.

 

WET-SET your float levels. See: http://www.xj4ever.com/setting%20fuel%20levels.pdf Very important on the Mikunis; the more accurate the better.

Get your VALVES in SPEC. Then you can do a running vacuum sync (with the YICS blocked) once they're back on the bike.

Float levels and sync are very important to how the bike runs and performs.

And as above, you won't have much luck trying to do anything with the airbox-to-carb boots off.

I also see signs of non-standardness in regard to the #4 intake manifold bolts; plus it looks like the clamp is still loose?

Oh, and this might help with the carbs too: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31061.html

 

Alright thanks for the information fellas. I'll pull the cover to check the valves and accurately wet-set the float levels. I didn't realize that having the carb intake boots off was an issue so next go around I'll make sure they're all on. Good eye BigFitz the #4 clamp is loose.

Yes CapnRedbeard, I have examined and refurbished the fuel tap, as it was leaking slightly. Thanks for the compliment, I'd like to preserve the bike as long as possible which is why I joined this forum. Bigfitz, what were you referring to in regards to the non-standardness of the #4 intake manifold bolts?

 

The standard bolts were allen head not hex head

 

Good links and info above, also I'd add taking a long look through this post http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14692.html in regards to getting your pilot circuits (and importantly cold start circuits, including wells in float bowls) spotlessly clean.

Also it'd be worth taking notes of the main & pilot fuel jet sizes (stamped into the head of the jets, can be hard to see) while you're in there, to give you a reference point in case any rejetting is needed for that exhaust (or to find out if it'd already been done)

Nice bike by the way

 

One other thing, your muffler is on upside down. Unless it has a fixed mounting bracket on the back that can't be seen in the picture, rotate it 180 degrees. The end bit "tip" should not be pointing up. As it is it will catch a lot of rain standing still, rotated it still will, but not as much.
This picture of my bike is not exactly the best view, but you can see the way the "tip" is oriented.

 

I appreciate all of the information guys. I'm starting to realize just how resourceful this forum can be. Thanks for the compliment 750E-II. Yes Maxim-X, I did realize the muffler was on upside down and didn't think much of it until you mentioned the likelihood of it catching rain water. So I'll be sure to rotate it around.