Probably the Carburetors

A few VM24 assemblies have both the air screws and pilot mixture screws. The pilot mixture screws will likely stick out of the well a bit so if you don't see them, then you don't have them I think... just to comment on your pilot jet. You were looking at them upside down. They are #15 pilots. There is a Mikuni symbol, you saw it looking kind of like a zero; sort of a square thing you can't see well and then the 15 and not 51... It wouldn't hurt to use #102.5 mains. the smaller mains are too small in almost all cases.

I was wondering about how I was reading them, but I read them the same way as the new ones, guess theres no standard on them. I was wondering what jets to use because of the pod filters and the mac exhaust. I have a parts bike, 81 CSR 650 looks like carbs don't have the pilot screw or the air screw. Perhaps if I get them cleaned up it may solve my problems or point me in the direction I need to go.
Thanks,

It's worth a shot. I learn by taking things apart so working on the spare carbs first might help.

bubbap wrote:

I was wondering about how I was reading them, but I read them the same way as the new ones, guess theres no standard on them. I was wondering what jets to use because of the pod filters and the mac exhaust. I have a parts bike, 81 CSR 650 looks like carbs don't have the pilot screw or the air screw. Perhaps if I get them cleaned up it may solve my problems or point me in the direction I need to go.
Thanks,

The pods are going to require larger jets all around. With emgo pods and stock 4-2 exhaust (which probably flows about the same as your aftermarket) on an 81 kz650 I was running 17.5 pilots and 115 mains with the needles in the 4th clip and my plug chops were dead on. The pod filters make much more of a difference in jetting than the pipe in most cases as I found out when I replaced the airbox with pods on my old 81.

Thanks to my brother in law, last night we woke the sleeping beast. Turns out the air idle screws were way off. Once I turned them back in I could take her off choke and rap her up all the way with only minor hesitation. I want to thank everyone who posted, its been a huge help. I really didn't know my bike would be such a screamer, lol.

Ok, I have actually ridden the bike now, which is great.
Now I have some small issues with the idle and carburetors still.
First off the bike starts on full choke immediately on starter or kick.
The issue I am having is after the bike has warmed up and idling at about 1000rpms, which it seems able to run well at.
When I rev it up to 4k it stays there. When I adjust the idle screws 1 and 4 will change the rpms but it seems carbs 2 and 3 have no effect. I am wondering could this possibly be a vacuum leak. I have removed the emissions and plugged all of the ports so I am not sure where the leak would be. I have checked the throttle linkage rod and it is closing all of the throttle valves.
The funny thing is when sitting a 4k I can adjust the idle down a little and the rpms come down, but I have to quickly adjust it back up to where it was to idle at 1k and it will stay idling until I hit the throttle again.

Rode around for about an hour last night nothing over 55, but I was getting on the throttle pretty good. She really purrs along well. I am still having the problem with the idle. Whenever I come to a stop she tries to die but again if I adjust the idle any she will sit a 4 grand when I hit the throttle, unless I put a load on the clutch or turn the idle back down. When I do come to a stop with the idle where it is she idles about 500 and tries to die.