Kz400 - need help

Hi all, need help getting my 1974 KZ400 started. Picked it up for $150 near Poughkeepsie.

(have a tank, its in real nice condition)

-cleaned out the carbs and jets, the carbs and passageways have been picked through and cleaned vigorously, so it can't be any issue related to them.
-right now i'm really thinking it has something to do with the kick lever, it feels like its engaging but, it really just seems to easy, I'm not sure if its just because I'm comparing it too my CL360 which seems a lot tougher to kickck down, but not sure. The clutch adjustment is all the way tightened to the locknut, i tried tightening the clutch but it actually just made the kick lever not engage anything.
-the kick lever does kick back
-brand new spark plugs
-bike has compression
-batteries good
-carbs have crappy emgo pods on for now, stock air box was shot

any ideas? and thanks in advance

Welcome aboard. Did you check the condition of the points? Do you have good spark at the plugs? The airbox is necessary, despite its being "shot", unless you rejet the carbs. But trying to do that with a non-runner is going to be particularly difficult. If it was my bike I would put the air box back on along with a new filter and make sure the carb jetting was stock at least until I got the bike running. Otherwise you are fighting a carb jetting issue along with who knows how many unknown issues. (points, coil, valve gap, etc.) In other words, try to eliminate as many variables as possible, get the bike running well to establish a solid baseline, then decide if any mods you make improve or degrade performance. Ed

Do you have spark to the plug? Holding the plug tip against a metal engine part should show a decent spark when kicked over.

Do you have fuel to the cylinders? 10 kicks with the key off should 'wet' the plug a bit.

Choke functioning?