Bringing a GS500E basket case back to life - but with a couple of glitches

[hawk73]

Ok, I took the plunge and tore down the valve train to see what my valve clearances were.  Several guys I talked to told me that the vacuum in the system could get way off and sporadic if the valve settings we off which could cause the hard start and revving to 4grand and holding.  Well valve clearances were way to close.  Less than .003.  I ordered shims from www.z1enterprises.com best prices I could find $4.75 each and the shipping was quick.  As I went to replace the shims I dropped one inside the motor. "Massive Frustration".  My kind wife with her small hands and patience used a magnet and string to fish it out from under the timing chain.  I then had a telescoping magnet to pull it out.  I figured my pains were over. Not quite.  I replaced and double checked all the shims and in the process had off set my timing.  So I reset my timing and then proceeded to tighten down the cam shaft holder bolts.  One broke off in the head.  "Massive Frustration" again.  After a week of patiently working a little at a time with left handed drill bits, screw extraction kit, and a small air die grinder to hold the bits God smiled on me and the bolt came out.  Once I had everything back together, no start.  Dsicovered I had a problem with the pet chicken and fuel lines.  1 hour later fuel flowed freely and bike started on full choke within 3 cranks.  Was warm enough in 2 minutes to run without choke and would restart with no problems.  Now I am down to a hesitation when revving up off of idle and the motor slowly coming back down to idle speed.  I know I need to sync the carbs and work with the idle air mixture screws but is there anything else I should put to practice?

[The Buddha]

Rejet while you're in there.
+ 1 on mains and pilots, 1 #4 washer under needle and 3 turns out on mix screw. All that for a stock bike.
Cool.
Buddha.

[hawk73]

Okay.  Partial success.  One trip around the block and I didn't have to walk.  I have the idle air mix screws adjusted to approx 1 1/2 to 2 turns afte the trip around the block as coming off of idle to rev up was very boggy.  Revs good with only a small bogg/hessitation from idle now.  When idleing down though it hangs between 4000 and 3500 for about 10 - 15 seconds and then drops to normal idle really quick and idles nicely.  I ran out of time tonight but will be moving my idle air mix screws 1/4 turn at a time to see if a bit richer idle air mix will help.  Any other suggestions for a hanging idle?  I did sync the carbs as good as possible with a vacum guage not a manometer.  I think I will build the simple manometer and balance my carbs with it since the guage is very sporadic and sensitive under 4 grand.  BTW thank you everybody for you ideas, help, suggestions, etc.