Honda-SOHC

Let me know how you go on, I often have the "starting on three" issue, after about 30 seconds the 4th chimes in, or if I take no4 airfilter off and squirt carb cleaner into the brass balance pipes it starts immediately on 4, so definitely a carb issue, float heights are all good though, never been enough of an issue to warrant a deeper look for me though, but if you find the fix I'll do the same! 😄👍

No probs mate!  Following a suggestion from a US forum member, I drained all 4 carbs in turn with petcock on (actually an aux tank for synch work!) and found a fair few varnish type (very small) fragments in the capture.

I may be wrong but these bits may be contributing to the issue.  Anyway, I've definitely decided to pull the rack and completely refurbish the carbs.

Still wasn't happy with the gauges, so borrowed my mate's Motion Pro Synchroniser to confirm what the gauges were saying.

It was interesting to watch the interaction between the carbs as adjustments were made.  I was able to get all 4 carbs pretty well exactly the same and also confirm that the gauges were close, but not quite as accurate.  I believe this type of comparison has been discussed elsewhere but it's nice to see it in the real world!

I still have this current problem though, if I restart the bike after 15min/30mins/1hr/6hrs etc. it stumbles and farts and sounds like at least one cylinder is not firing properly, if at all  .  It's very hard to get running 1st off.
But once it “clears its throat” it idles quite well and seems to accelerate without coughs or splutters.  Blipping the throttle, it comes back to idle without drama.

This lack of normal start has only occurred since I put some Nulon (Aussie stuff) carb cleaner in the tank, hoping at the time it may have cleared the problem with the overflow on #2 carb.  In fact #3 has started o/flowing as well! 

I have new hoses from the tank to the carbs, but maybe the small hoses that interconnect 1 to 2, and 3 to 4 have reacted to the carb cleaner and particles from them are now clogging the float needle(s) and maybe the slow jets ……either that or crud that has existed in the carbs before “dosing”.   In any case, a complete carb refurb seems to me to be the best approach now.
Sound like a good idea?

Cheers, Andy (aka Himble)

The carb sync gauges arrived today.  Being relatively cheap I didn't expect "professional" quality and I didn't get it! 
The needles at rest were all in different spots so I figured there must be a way to make them all the same.  The "way" was to ease off the front faces of each gauge and "reset" the needles to the proper spot.  This done, I then set up my trusty old vacuum cleaner to provide a pretty constant vacuum for the 5mm hoses.  Fortunately, all 4 gauges read within a gnat's c0ck of each other!    Unexpected roadblocks notwithstanding, I'll do the sync tomorrow.

Long story short, the original side covers are now being replaced with a set from Joe (www.fb-stuff.com) which I ordered over the w/end here, so hopefully will see them in the next couple of weeks.

Noticed a bloke in Perth is selling a Rickman for AUD17K!

In the mail today, received the clips I was needing for the #1 and #4 plug leads that attach to the breather cover bolts.
With the plug connectors I received earlier I completed the stock plug lead routing.

I received the replacement (read "correct") tacho from Bryanj today and checked its operation...all good!
Now in the process of refurbishing before mounting it permanently.
Also did a check of the charging circuit.  Voltage at 3000rpm and above was a bit low so tweaked the regulator voltage adjust screw, now seeing ~14.5v as per shop manual.
Waiting now for the paintjob completion on the side covers.
Also received a carb repair kit from cruzinimage_au.

Good points Hairygit and Mark. 

Took the bike for a blat this arvo after tweaking the timing on the Dyna S.  Went like a shower of ****!! 
Waiting now for the paint job on the side covers to be done.  Tappet check/adjust tomorrow and carb sync a bit further down the track.  Even furtherer down the track, new or cad-plated existing spokes and a cleanup of both rims, hubs etc.