carb sync and tune 440

Ive got an 81 440 and am having balancing and tuning problems. If you can think of the problem ive got em. first off im having trouble setting the fuel level in the bowl. it seems that I can try and level them on the bench and i cant get the level high enough then i put them on the bike and they start leaking like crazy.

How sensitive are these carbs to the fuel level in the bowl?

Next problem, both carbs seem to run (roughly) when it is above idle. yet when they get close to idle one cylinder drops out and it dies.

Another, I thought i should try to sync or balance the carbs, using clear tube and some antifreeze as a bright colored liquid i could easily see. The outcome was one carb would suck so hard the antifreeze would be sucked right into the vacuum port. so i tried adjusting back and the other carb sucked the antifreeze in. haha im at the end of my rope.

Basically the darn things just wont idle. All the things listed above are things ive done to try and make them idle. Theyve been cleaned (at least 10 times) and kitted. ive made sure all jets and holes are clean and flow fuel.
They DO have pods, which i know is evidently a real trouble maker. but it seems if one side runs on idle i should be able to get them to both run idle.

Im going crazy, brb im going to go curl up in a ball in my shower and cry. :side:

how are your plugs?

brand new plugs coil and contact points. just checked the compression with some bad news. right cylinder 120, left only 105. yet the low compression cylinder is the one that tends to run better.