Wide open good, idle bad, help GS1000L

[gtemplarbond]

1980 GS1000L
I took the carbs off, cleaned them, replaced all the rubber doodads, put everything back the same.
Wide open is fine, gentle riding, 50mph, pops and tugs, idle is erratic, choke just makes it over rev. Some carb backfire noted with filtre off.
New oiled filter.
New plugs, cables on fine.
I did use generic O rings, I know, probably bad but they should work for a while at least?

Help please.

[seuadr]

backfire with the filter off is probably popping from a lean condition.

as far as the o rings i don't know, but definitally make sure your o rings on your carb boots into the engine are good, and vac sync the carbs. did you bench sync them?

[gtemplarbond]

backfire with the filter off is probably popping from a lean condition.

as far as the o rings i don't know, but definitally make sure your o rings on your carb boots into the engine are good, and vac sync the carbs. did you bench sync them?

No, should I?

[Griffin]

1980 GS1000L
I took the carbs off, cleaned them, replaced all the rubber doodads, put everything back the same.
Wide open is fine, gentle riding, 50mph, pops and tugs, idle is erratic, choke just makes it over rev. Some carb backfire noted with filtre off.
New oiled filter.
New plugs, cables on fine.
I did use generic O rings, I know, probably bad but they should work for a while at least?

Help please.

Did you replace the intake boot o-rings? If so, and you used buna o-rings from a hardware store, they're probably already melted.

Buna is fine for the carbs, but boot o-rings need to be viton to withstand the high temperatures snuggled up next to the engine.

[seuadr]

No, should I?

yes. it will make a big difference in how they run.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

has info on bench syncing the carbs.. will make them much closer and it will run much better ( though not as good as a vac sync of course )

and if you are taking the carbs off the check the o rings on the boots that go into the head.. i can't think of a good reason not to bench sync'em.

[gtemplarbond]

Guilty of all the above, I shall get the correct rings and bench test.