Almost starts! Wont catch and keep running!!

Still trying to get the 1986 VFR700F running!!! Fixed the starter problem, and put new springs and followers and rollers in the impulse coupling (so I DID have the impulse coupling apart, but I was careful not to rotate any of the parts while replacing the springs, etc).
After cleaning the carbs thoroughly, it will not start. It fires, and sooooooooo close to starting, it is almost running, but when I let off the starter it dies.
Pulled the back plugs, and they were wet.
Pulled the carb rack off again, removed one float needle. It has a small ring around it, on the rubber tip from wear, but is that honestly enough of a groove to cause it to not seat??? I don't see how. I read all the posts I could find about this, including the guy whose problem seemed to be his spark plugs (but, he DID clean the carbs AGAIN AND put in new spark plugs at the same time.) So we don't really know what fixed his problem.
HELP!! I'm ready to dig a BIG HOLE in the ground for this bike!!!!

 

not yet don't bury the old girl.. sounds like it is flooding and yeah if that isn't seating properly it will allow fuel to "pour in"....
I know this is gonna sound silly but..... are you sure you have put the fuel line back on the correct tube? I did this on mine once and it would almost fire off..then I looked at it and it was dumping fuel straight into the carbs..... just a thought. you could also try letting it dry out from being flooded (check spark on the wet cylinder) make sure you are getting spark to that one.. then without turning on the fuel give it a spritz of starter fluid (not a lot) and see if it will fire off... you also need to make sure the boots are on correctly.. this sounds like a WTF moment but there is a certain way that they go on. one side is marked "carb" here straight from the book "make sure that the band collar is installed with the insulator. Install the carb insulators with the "carb" mark facing the caruretor. Align the narrow groove on the carburetor insulators with the tab on the carburetor intake port side..."

good luck you are almost there..

 

Sorry, a little more info....
When I roll on the throttle, it is worse....then it doesn't even try to start.
Same with starting fluid. that just kills it.
It does put a vapor out the exhaust when it's trying to start. I'll see what I get for spark at the back two plugs.
The carb boots are okay.
The worst thing is that it was running just fine last year. but it sat with the fuel in it all winter.... it's not mine, but it is for sale. I just said that I could fix it for them... now I am going crazy!! Feel like I don't know **** about carbs and bikes, but I have worked on tons of them : (
Would you replace the float needles ??

 

With 10% ethanol in most regular gasoline these days it is not wise to leave fuel for any extended amount of time without using some type os fuel stabilizing agent.
Rolling on the throttle with these carbs will only introduce more air to the mix which is usually what you do not want during starting.

Are you sure you ignition switch and the kill switch are functioning properly and spark is being delivered?

 

Update.....I going to dig a hole for this thing :chaingun:
Okay. Had the carbs off anyhow, so I set all the floats to shut off just a little bit earlier. I think the book says the float level should be 0.3". So I set them all at like 0.35 That should in ANY case be enough fuel to idle the **** bike. I checked the carb boots carefully. It DOES say carb on one end - I'll be darned. So I carefully put the boots on to make sure they are correct. Tightened all the clamps. I have a small riding mower gas tank that I hang from my garage door rail that sits about 24" above the bike. I put about a pint of gas in that tank, and ran the fuel line to inlet side of the fuel pump. Tried to start it. It didn't come as close to starting this time, but it IS firing intermittently. I pulled the two back plugs. One was pretty much dry, the other one was a tiny bit wet. I put the plugs back in and grabbed my spark tester. Granted, it only tests to see that there is electrical current coming to the plugs, but on both wires, it did light up my spark checker.
The plugs don't LOOK bad at all. ?? Anyhow, still using the old float needles. I let it sit for a couple of hours while I was working on some other stuff. Came back to it, and it wouldn't even turn over. WTF?? A quick look at the little gas tank revealed that it was empty. The gas had all run into the cylinders. I pulled the two back spark plugs to check it, and yep, soaking wet with gas. So, now, I'll have a pint of gas in my oil just make things that much better! :whiteflag:
Does anybody EVER get these things to run???
I'm beginning to think it's the worst bike I've ever seen. I guess at this point I'll go buy all new float needles, set the floats at 0.3" and a new set of spark plugs. If it doesn't start after that, I'm getting rid of it.