Help, Honda, bog. Wits end

I know I know. This is a KZ forum. Forgive me but I can't seem to nail this one. I have a 72 CB500/4 chop. I'm running pods and very small straight pipes. Its never run 100%. Even after the guy cleaned my carbs and dialed them in. Recently I noticed a high end bog. I have changed plugs, pulled carbs and cleaned. Knocked up the jets to 110s from 105s. The jets made it run stronger and got rid of any low end hesitation. I checked for vaccum leaks and have none. Spark plug wires are good, coils strong. After I changed the jets, 2 of the 4 carbs started pissing gas so I pulled them today and cleaned again. They seem to have stopped pissing. Oh, and I ran some seafoam through it for shits and giggles about a week ago. Any thoughts here?

Carbs pissing is most likely float height issues, I'd check and verify that those are correct (can't help ya with how as I've only ever done them on a kz650).

How do your plugs look? I'm not sure what stock jet sizes are for those carbs, but if you only bumped from a 105 to a 110 on the main jet I doubt that's enough to get the mixture right for running pods and straight pipes. Running pods and open baffle 4-1 on my kz650 I had to bump pilot jets up from 15 to 17.5, and mains from 102.5 all the way up to 117.5 and moved my needle down a clip to richen up the mid range as well. I don't know anything about the carbs on your Honda, but I'd be looking at getting the jetting right for all three carb circuits.

STock mains are 100. That seems alright. This is a new problem so its seems to me somethin has gone bad. Just can't figure what else to F with.

not sure what you mean by doesn't run right. but i'll take a stab anyway. first the carb pissing could be rust in the tank. if it is rust, your carbs will start pissing again. or the float needles and seats are worn. i hope the guy who did your carbs took the time to confirm the fuel levels. have you balanced/sync the carbs? have you set the valves and set the timing and points? you didn't say how the plugs looked or why you changed them. have you tried raising the needles?

Valves adjusted, timing set. "Doesn't run right" actually means I've never been able to shut the choke completely off and have it run properly. It ran well despite that. Now, I rechecked my plugs and it seems that 3 and 4 are black. 1 and 2 are perfect. Strange.

Carbs synced? Compression good on all cylinders?

pull out your pilot jets and spray them out with carb cleaner then do the same one thing to the passages blow them out with compressed air until you feel air flowing and can see thru the jets also blow out the vents in the bowls and make sure that you get air flowing that is the most important thing that is the reason you have run the bike with the choke on. and get rid of those usless straight pipes they don't flow worth a dam. if you get the carbs working properly you might have to jet down again like below stock levels just because the airflow is so bad.

if the bike only runs at idle with the choke on the carbs do need more attention. the pilot circuit is plugged either at the jets or the passages. don't count out rust in the tank as the source to the pilots not working. because two plugs are black is not a reason to downsize the jets. your float levels could be too high on those carbs. take your time on this and don't seize a motor as you dial the carbs in. better a fouled plug than a seized motor.

Have you checked the spark at the plugs? A weak spark can make you think it's a carb problem. The website www.wgcarbs.com lists how to bypass the aged wiring in the older Kawasaki's with a relay for increased spark efficiency. For about $20 and an hours time the older KZ's run really well.

Yup.........ditto. I'd do what timebomb said.

Gee, I wonder if this could have anything to do with it. While I was doin this, I went through some of the electrical. What a hack job this guy did. I can't figure this guy cleaned this motor prior to "building his chop". Lord. I'll be cleaning, new rings, gasket and checking valves, and cleaning some more. I hacve to assume this is my issue. Thanks all for you help with my Honda.

And this