Motorcycle Repair: Starting and Idling Prob, cm400t, leak gas

Question
Hi, I finally finished putting together my 1980 cm400T. One of my teachers gave it to me in complete pieces. Since last June I've been workin on it and finished putting it together today. It wouldn't start. Then I got some starter fluid and got it to start. It seemed to only stay on until it ran out of starter fluid. I cleaned the carburators. One other thing I noticed was that it would leak gas from the carburators. I finally got it to start without starter fluid. It wouldn't stay on for long though. Until it finally kind of idled which was hard for it since it was on choke. If i took choke off it would turn off. Then I tried it again it started and stayed on. I moved it so I can ride it but then it turned off and gave up and put it away. I think the settings on the carburator are wrong or something. I've never messed with those carburators before so I'm afraid of messing with the settings unless I have professional guidance. Can you please tell me what I need to get it running smoothly.

Answer
Edgar, since it was all in pieces, I would be interested to know if you had to reassemble the engine and if so, did you get the cam timing correctly set? If the cam timing is not done accurately, the engine won't run no matter how much you mess with the carbs.
Check compression... should be about 175 psi in both cylinders. If not, fix that first. Low compression on both cyls indicates cam timing issues.

You said you "cleaned the carbs" ... with what? Did you install new gaskets, clean all jets and passages? Leaking carbs indicated worn/dirty float valves. Correct float level is 15.5mm. #38 idle jets, 72/118 pri/secondary mains.

Bill Silver