The problem I was having had to do with an extensive popping on my left exhaust. I pulled the plugs and they looked like this:
IMG_0643 by Dr125, on Flickr
The right one on the top looks lean and the left one on the bottom looks really rich
I started with Ed's Guide, did the points.
IMG_0649 by Dr125, on Flickr
A bit delayed due to a stripped and seized screw. But all worked out in the end.
Next I moved on to the carbs. Throttle slides moved in synch. I opened up the left to take a closer look thinking that my problems may lay in there.....
I found out that I have 140 and 42 jets, not the standard 135. And the needle was set at its lowest setting. Also found out that there had been some previous work to the carb - my only thought is that this cant be good:
IMG_0658 by Dr125, on Flickr
Set the floats at 22.5 from gasket
Adjusted the throttle slides 1/4 turn each side according to the tune up guide, and got the bike idling nicely around 900-1000RPM which was better than before.
Left the air screw at 1 1/8 turns out and went for a quick ride around the block and seemingly lost a bit of the response in the throttle. The popping in the left exhaust was still there and when I pulled the plugs to take a look....
the left was still very rich and the right even more lean, the plug was pretty white.
When adjusting the idle and throttle screws, I get an immediate response from the right side adjustment, but much more delayed if any from the left.
I've read a lot of the posts that deal with this and similar issues, and figure that maybe the next step could be to redo the tune-up again, may take a few attempts to really get it right and following that to check the plug caps and wires - they could be changed and/or trimmed back 1/4" for fresh wire.
Any suggestions or tips are more than welcomed. And also for kicks, I found this note on my gas tank this morning...
IMG_0651 by Dr125, on Flickr
thanks for all the help