Running rich with Pods

Hi guys, so I'm working on my first restoration project so fairly new to all this. Its a 1979 KZ400 H1 that hasn't been on the road in 20 years.
Ive stripped the whole thing down and reassembled with some K&N pods, I've also converted from 2-2 to 2-1 exhaust. Apparently, all this should make the mixture leaner but when i can get the bike running its crazy rich, even think I managed to flood the engine. Main jet is 160! So how on earth its running rich I've got no idea. Any help would be appreciated!!
Also I'm using the stock CV carbs that came with the bike, I now people say never run pods with CVs but i got halfway through the cafe project before figuring that one out and I really want to make it work as is.

Start by performing all engine , fuel and ignition maintenance listed in a shop manual, factory or aftermarket.
Clean the carbs, inspect the diaphragms and reinstall the stock jets. This is where you start unless you have years
of experience. Which 2 into 1 are you using? This makes a difference.


.

Be sure the pods aren't blocking any air passages.
Steve

Perform clear tube tests to assure fuel levels are within specs (not too high).

Good Fortune!

Right! Thanks for all the suggestions.
Nebr rex, i've run all standard engine checks. Getting great compression and spark. Ive given the carbs a thorough clean and diaphragms are fine, though i did have to patch one of them with some bike repair kit stuff, hope it holds! Turns out i was wrong about the main jet, I misread an M for a 1 so the main jet is 60. Pilot is 68. Stock main is 70 so don't really want to send away for a bigger jet when I'm running rich.
With regards to the exhaust, Ive got a straight pipe connected to the old pipes which i welded into a 2-1 my self. Think they should be fine?!

SWest, The pods are brand new and clear. I used the connector boots of the stock air box between the filter and the carbs as apparently this gives a more linear air flow.

Patton, Slightly baffled by float hight! Will adjusting it change the rich/ leanness of the mixture or does it just do float bowl level. Are they linked and can i play with the hight to fix my problem as i can't find any smaller jets?

Thanks for helping guys!!

Also, the carbs came with little rubber stops blocking the pilot jets in the bowls?! Surely this can't be intended and maybe removing them has caused my problem?

You need those caps for the pilot jets. Pilots get their fuel via a narrow bleed pipe from the primary main jet. I' m surprised bike ran at all without them.
Hope you didnt throw them out as they are as rare as hens teeth.

Thanks, Why they build the jets into the carbs then block them is beyond me but ill give it a go:)

Patton wrote: Perform clear tube tests to assure fuel levels are within specs (not too high).

Good Fortune!

Here will I put my money to!

JR wrote: Hope you didnt throw them out as they are as rare as hens teeth.

I believe Mike’s XS carries them for the BS34 (assuming that’s what we’re talking about here).

Those plugs direct the fuel coming through the main jet circuit. It will not run right without them.
Steve

The plugs definitely helped, the bike no longer stalls on me and runs really smoothly on about an 1/8th throttle but when I open it up any more than that it splutters and there is barely any power increase!?
I'm guessing it must be rejecting time but the main is a 60 so smaller than stock 70 and I'm still running rich!
Float level is within spec.
Thoughts? and thanks to everyone thats helped so far!