I am resurrecting a 1982 Kawasaki KZ1100 with about 11,000 miles for a guy in town. It ran fine 9 years ago when he parked it w/o proper storage steps.
Because the carbs were so welded and I lack rebuilding experience, I sent them out to a local, independent shop who everyone trusts and has been in business many years. He purchased a kit, rebuilt, and adjustments were 'set to factory specs'.
Here is my stupid mistake that I own up to. I mistakenly told him that it was a 1000J and he rebuilt accordingly, but the 'J' main jet is very different. After I learned my mistake, I consulted him (he still had the old brass), and doesn't think that he changed the needles. I tried researching the difference in kits and can fine only the main jets are different. I reinstalled the original jets after insuring the ports were clear leaving the rest alone.
For the most part, the bike starts right up, runs good at mid and higher RPM's, but won't idle and spits when it tries. I finally got it to idle by cranking up the idle speed multiple turns, but then it wants to continue revving high, may eventually drop, but a short time ago, it remained revving at 4500 RPM and I shut it down. I checked the plugs and #4 was a bit wet, so I leaned it's idle mixture 1/8 turn. The rest look good.
I checked, adjusted, and rechecked the valves and are within specs. New plugs and air filter. The rubber between the carbs and engine are in surprisingly good shape despite the age observing no cracks, but I didn't remove them. I tried to keep it running long enough to sync the carbs but gave up; even so, they aren't crazy out of spec but will need to be synced if I can get it to idle.
Compression check hot and cold: 125 to 130, except #3 is 90. Yea, I know. There is the slightest oil leak in front near #2. While trying to sync, I noticed a vacuum drop from #2 during a 'spit', but I don't think that's the only cylinder spitting. Anti-pollution reeds checked good for what that is worth. The tank had a lot of rust, but I cleaned that and inserted a see-through fuel filter to verify that crap isn't getting inside.
I'm tapped out and am throwing this out there: why won't it idle?