new riders '85 VF500 project

hello i just bought my first '85 VF500 as a project bike. the title on the bike was issued in 2001 and when i bought it recently it only had roughly 100 miles added to the odometer since as after looking at the bike it obvisously just sat in a corner for years. when i bought the bike it started and runs shortly on starting fluid til it runs out of the air box. ive talked to my buddy who has a 700 of the same year he rebuilt and he said the carbs need cleaned out most likely and suggested the manual on one of the sticky posts on the forum but when i downloaded it i cant hardly see the pics and i was wondering if there any other suggestions to try and trouble shoot this problem. i can hear it has good compression so i assume hes right about the carbs and all the lights and electronics were recently replaced(it was a father-son project but the guy who i bought it off ofs son didnt appreciate the project and bought a bike without his dad knowing so he sold this one). a list of things i should check and go thru first would be INSANELY HELPFUL lol

 

Welcome!

If I could suggest two books for the library shelf: the Factory Service Manual and Mike Nixon's Cleaning the Honda V4 Carburetor.

Also, inspecting the valve train and setting the valve lash should be at the top of the clipboard. Lots of info can be found here regarding these topics.

Hope this is of some help and good luck with your project!

 

This welcome should be a sticky. It's EXACTLY how a new member should be treated.