Cb550f tuning help

[StreetSpirit]

Hey, I've got a 77 cb550f with uni pods running through a 4-1 straight pipe. Did a valve adjustment and set the points and I just started messing with the carbs. Bumped up to 125 main jets which seem ok as it runs great and pulls hard at wot and high rpms.

Even after a sync it does not idle well though and at partial throttle openings it stumbles and misses before kind of coughing and cleaning up. Before the sync I had raised the needles 2 positions and the pilot screws are about 1 turn out. Just trying to figure out what's going on. I get a lot of crackling and popping on decel but I figure that's just the open pipes.

Has anyone else with a similar setup needed a bigger pilot? How about needle position? Did I go too far?

A plug chop is not going to tell me much since its not a wot issue...

Thoughts?

 

[crazypj]

re-set float levels +1mm, drop needle at least one clip position (it needs to be lower in needle jet, probably 1 or 2 from top)
You will need to do a carb sync after adjusting needles
125 main jet would usually be too big, but, running without muffler means pipe is too short so it could be close?

 

[StreetSpirit]

Yeah, I guess I'll have to tear into the carbs again. Any thoughts on the funky idle tho? Maybe I need to bump the pilot up and drop the needle?

 

[crazypj]

Stock pilot should be fine, there is virtually no restriction from airbox at the rpm it covers
Raise float level at least 1mm