Motorcycle Repair: carb Setting, air fuel mixture, bolts and nuts

Question
Hi Mike
I changed my top end gaskets and piston rings this past winter. My bike was back firing and chugging after. I had to play with the choke as I rode well more when I geared down to keep it running or it would stall at the stops. Then it would try to stall taking off again and I would have to play with the choke again until I got it going.  So someone tried to adjust my carb figuring that was the problem.  I noticed later that there was oil spitting on my oil tank from the back top rocker gasket. So I took the rockers off and got new gaskets and re checked everything on the top as far as tightened bolts and nuts to torque specs and making sure the exhaust pipes where on tight and carb intake clamps were tight. Cleaned plugs both plugs have spark. put it all back together. And now it starts but revs to high and I don't know how to set the carb back. There seems to be a lot of gas in the carb and will fire a flame and back fire sometimes. I did notice that when I took the rockers off that the front valve had a pool of oil around the spring. I have not notices that before. Is there something wrong with that valve maybe? I have 1981 on KEIHIN CARB. Oh and I noticed that when I feel the barrels the front one is not hot and the back is. same with the spark plugs. And the back plug is dry but a little black and the front is dry and clean. And both spark. same with the exhaust pipe the back is hot the front is warm.

I hope you can help and it is a minor prob. I am a mom with kids home for the summer break and in need of some time on the hwys...
thanks Leslie

Answer
It sounds like you need to remove and rebuild your carb. You have some dirt in the jets and that is why you had to run with the choke open. There are only town adjustments on your carb. Air/fuel mixture and idle. Set the air/fuel mixture screw at about i 1/2 turn out and get the bike running. Once it warms up, slowly turn the screw inward just until the bike starts to stumble and then outward about 1/4 turn and its set. When the bike is warm turn the idle screw until the bike idles at around 900 RPM
Good luck and happy riding
Mike