Motorcycle Repair: 86 Honda Shadow, vt500c, honda shadow

Question
Bill,
 My VT500C sat for about a year and a half. I drained the old gas, and filled the tank with new gas. I changed the plugs, pulled the carbs and cleaned them. The bike will start, but only when the choke is on. As soon as I turn off the choke, or try to give it a little gas it stalls. What am I doing wrong?  

Answer
Rick did you remove and clean all the jets and orifices and cross-drilled holes? Sounds like the idle jets are still plugged up or you have a major air leak somewhere.

The petcock has a diaphragm on it that may have a hole in it which makes an air leak and restricts the fuel flow all that the same time. There is a fuel screen that is part of the petcock, inside the fuel tank that could be plugged, too.

Did you inspect the carburetor starter (choke) assemblies for any damage, too?

Bill Silver