Honda-SOHC

Thanks for this. I will test the throttle tomorrow and start there. I'll also look into the idle circuit set up...

I actually just tried as Orcade-Ian suggested. Sprayed some easy start down stream of the carbs and it did raise the revs quite dramatically. So I'm going to take the carb off and check the rubbers etc. It could be sucking in air? Worth half an hour's work of checking!

Wow...Thanks for the quick and welcoming replys guys...Very re assuring...I was beginning to feel alone on this one!
Anyway, I just spent a few hours in the garage and managed to get it running ok. I removed the tank and made up a temporary tank  to feed fuel. it now runs. I took the carbs of and checked floats etc, they all seem good but the bolts to the bowls were a bit loose. Turns out the petcock is not working in the 'on' position but it does on the reserve..do you have any recommendations on where to get a new one?

Also it wont idle well at all. if I get it idling nicely, it will for a few mins and then the bike will change revs on its own, sometimes it goes up quite dramatically and sometimes it will bog down and die. having done some research I think it would be worth syncing them. Does anyone Sussex way have a kit to do so or is it worth buying a kit? These 4 carbs are a bit new to me...I take apart small engine carbs on garden tools but nothing like this. The bike is running rich too, im getting a bit of blue smoke when revving.

On a side note, the guy I bought it from said it had all just been re built...although he had no paperwork to back it up. The exterior of the bike is very clean and when I took the carbs off they seemed in good internal condition.

Thanks in advance!