Now this is where my carb boots being 1" shorter than the Concours boots really paid off. On a stock Concours, prying out the carbs are a royal PITA, no room for maneuvering, one just has to drag them out and mash them back in beating up the boots in the process.
With the air box being able to be shifted back an inch, this made it much easier to get to the carbs. I would do this many times as we worked these issues. The high speed needles could be changed with the carbs in place (although access was a bit difficult especially on #2 and #3).
So, I would ride down the road doing exactly what Steve said to do (how much throttle, at what rpm, what the symptoms were, etc.). Then I would come home, phone Steve, he would tell me what to do next. Yank the carbs, make adjustments, re-install the carbs, test ride, rinse, repeat.
Much of what transpired indicated the mixture was too fat. Approaching a smooth running solution proved difficult. In my one contribution to this experiment I suggested going too lean and working up from there. Steve agreed so I lowered the high speed needles and put a set of smaller main jets in.
This worked very well and we crept up on smoothness one step at a time. I can't remember how many changes I made but the final process was jet and needle specific.
On the second to last test ride, I was almost there. Steve suggested raising the needles one notch and he bet this would do it.
It did! Next ride was perfect, this thing hauled rutabagas at that point.
We were there!
