Newbie Post - Carb and Choke Plunger Question

[Duncan]

Hi,
First post on the forum so please take it easy on me. I've searched the forum (and Google) but would like to get any advice from the forum as can't find anything specific.
Recent purchase of a 1st gen SV650 (stupidly unseen, major mistake)
Found fuel economy down to about 45 miles per tank (yes, tank) after a few trips.
Lifted tank - PO had cut off the vacuum to rear carb and had uninterrupted fuel going to carb. Oil was full of fuel on two changes in 2 weeks.
On rerouting and adding new vacuum line engine refused to start. (Starting wasn't an issue before reconnecting vacuum line)

Have rebuilt petcock, removed carbs (first time) and replaced the leaking rear gasket of float and replaced corroded rear float needle.
Carbs were surprisingly pretty much spotless outside of the rear float area.
Pilot jet/main jet/needle jets are clear.

Tested vacuum and fuel pump, both working now. Reinstalled carbs and now engine starts after around 3 tries with choke fully open.

Bike won't idle below 1/4 choke now, if rev engine below 1/4 choke, will stall.
Have contacted 2 local garages re rebalancing and ultrasonic cleaning (in case I missed stuff - likely)

One reckons the idle jets might be blocked but I can't see those in manuals, assume they mean main jets?

Other possibility I was informed of on social media was that choke assemblies might need greasing/o rings replaced/possible rebuild.
Choke wise though, again, didn't seem to be an issue before reinstall of carbs.
Maybe as was running super rich?

Thanks in advance and apologies again if posting in wrong area/failure to correctly search!

[Bibio]

try turning the tickover screw up. or it could be missing. its a black plastic knob with long wire with a plunger on the end that connects to the carbs. the black knob sits in the frame trellis.

[Duncan]

Thanks Bibio, have the tickover, I'll get that a go.

[Biker Biggles]

Can you get the engine to rev off choke with throttle open? If not then it will be more than an idling problem, possibly an inlet air leak somewhere giving a very weak mixture.

[Duncan]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Can you get the engine to rev off choke with throttle open? If not then it will be more than an idling problem, possibly an inlet air leak somewhere giving a very weak mixture.

I can't get bike to rev off choke, only with 1/4 choke still engaged.
Was thinking it might be an air leak (as well as idle setting) as received some other advice that it might be the choke plungers needing to be rebuilt - o-rings and so on, apparently a common fault on Gen 1 SVs? I did grease the o-rings in the Choke plunger assemblies and check the springs, choke issue wasn't there before I pulled carbs.
Possible I've got an air leak somewhere from not installing carbs correctly.
I've got it booked in for a carb ultrasonic clean and rebalance now, just going to have to swallow the expense.
Hopefully the mechanic can resolve an air leak issues, I'll let him know of potential issues.