Motorcycle Repair: 1975 CB550K1 Carburator balance, vacuum pipes, lock nuts

Question
I have just taken out the carburetor on my CB550 as it was not running great after a long down time and cleaned out the carbs...only thru disassembly of Carb bowl and top and taking pieces out but I did not separate carbs. I have re-assembled with new seals and am about to put back in but need some guidance on Carb balancing as even though I have the repair manual it does not give a blow by blow of carb tuning. Do I connect the vacuum hoses to the four vacuum pipes on the carb. Have you any assistance you can offer to do this right?

Answer
Gerry, you will need a tool to loose up the lock nut to allow you to make the adjustments while you hold the center adjustmet screw with a screwdriver.  On that year there's no right way to go about it.  I typically adjust the one farthest out of adjustment first and move it closer to the average of the other 3 carbs.  As you make adjustments to one the others will change some.  Make small adjustments and not try to get it all in one adjustment. Since all carbs move some when one is adjusted it pays to use small adjustments and nudge the setting closer to each other.  Try to get them all within an inch of each other.  I'll warn you not to over tighten the lock nuts.  It will bind up the balance mechanisms and make it almost impossible to get them to balance.  Also it's possible to break the arms off the carbs and that just make for a bad day. Be sure and put a window fan or something to move air over the engine so you don't over heat the engine.  

Good luck
Rich