I'm moving to a new apartment tomorrow, so really hoping I'll be able to get my bike running by then. After finally managing to change 2 valve shims I've run into problems remembering where everything goes on the carbs. Really wish I'd taken a pic and labeled things before removing, the California emissions stuff makes it much more confusing   

So I think I've got everything that matters in the right place, except the vacuum hose. I can see it on the petcock, but I can't see a place to connect it on the inside of the left carb, which is where all the how-to's say it goes. Could somebody give me a quick description of what the connector on the carb looks like? I'll have to pay to have my bike towed if I can't figure this out by tomorrow morning 

It's a barbed fitting and they point to the right side of the bike.My carbs have one on each of them.They are just below the vacuum port on the black cap/top.There should be a brass tube running right past it.

I'm wondering if the vacuum connector on mine is in a different location. I got the bike put together again and it's running, though I'm getting the bouncing rpm needle thing I read about in other threads, which I think is a vacuum issue.

I don't think my carb has a vacuum outlet in the inside-left location. After looking through the Haynes manual, it looks like some things changed starting in 2004. My vacuum hose connects to a series of 3 (!) 3-way connectors that makes it really difficult to re-install it. I must have spent an hour staring at the inside of the left carb--there just isn't any outlet there, for any kind of hose.

Anyone else with 2004+ GSs with the vacuum set up differently than as described in the wikis? Mine is a California model, but I think this may not just be CA-specific. In addition to the canister, mine has that PAIR air control thingy screwed onto the frame above the valves. At least the bike is running fine, but I think something is still off with the vacuum system, due to the bouncing tachometer needle.

By the way, it's running MUCH better after adjusting valve clearances.