Inconsistent idle issue

Hello, I am so happy to say that I have finally ridden my SECA!! It has been a little while since buying the bike in Jan till now and a bit more $$ than I was expecting to get road worthy but I am really grateful that this forum exists.

Anyway to the issue I have, when first getting the bike running the idle was set high about 3K mark. Simply turning down the idle adjustment screw between carb 2&3 got that idle down significantly. Now when I start it, it has a nice idle but on my second ride the idle kept creeping higher and higher as the ride went on. At the end of the 15miles it was at 3K. It was pretty frustrating and pretty irritating to be sitting at a stop sign or redlight and have it almost screaming. Of course I caught every redlight on the way back. Once on the move it wasn't pulling hard or anything to get back to 3K it was very pleasant.

To help with the diagnosis I have a few observations, one is that I know I have a dead battery and this is being remedied right now (new one is on the trickle charger), and I bump started it to ride. And two is that all of the vacuum tubes are capped minus one that has a long tube with a knot in the middle and no termination (fuel peacock doesn't have a vac port?). I believe this is on carb 3 (L to R, front wheel forward). My next steps are to have the bike running and spot check the carbs/boots with starter fluid for vac leak. If vac leak is the issue what is the remedy?

Much appreciate any advice.

 

remove the knot put a plug in it a golf tee works or a nail and clamp it.
go to parts store and get a new cap.
do you have clamps on the caps.
sounds like a vacuum leak test carb to manifold boots the throttle seals and mixture screws and airbox boots caps on ports.
you can use an unlit propane torch, or carb cleaner.
I do propane first hold around each place you test and see if idle increases. if you find no leak go to carb cleaner, carb cleaner works best at the throttle seals and spray a little into mixture screws

my bet it is the knot

riding on a dead battery is stressing your alternator

vac leaks on boots requires repair or replacment of course it could be the gasket for them too are your clamps on tight? carbs seated properly?
throttle seal leaks require replacment.
airbox boots can be repaired or replaced. clamps tight

replace vac caps it they leak and a clamp does not fix that

 

also make sure the throttle cable has some slack in it and throttle cable is routed properly, doubt this is your probeml right side cover will have rpm setting which differs from manual my rpm setting is 1200 rpm

 

I'm nearly certain it's a fuel issue now. Coming to a stop or on a decline the engine idles lower than typical. I put the back tire on the curb and it killed it immediately. Is this a problem with the floats?

 

It could definately be related to the float height. How did you (or did you ) set the float height (I am assuming that you have serviced the carbs)?

What you describe is indictive of fuel levels that are too low.