VF500 F2 Carb Question

Tried to get the VF running for the first time today with no luck. Decided to pull the carbs apart and give them a good clean as they look pretty filthy and the bike has been sat for two years.

Before I took the carbs of, there was fuel running out of what looks like to be a drain hole/screw on the bottom of each carb. Are these drain holes that need to be screwed up, or do they connect to something that I'm missing. See image...

 

Float bowl drain screws were maybe left open when the bike was put in storage as it's best not to allow fuel to jellifiy inside. Tighten screws and proceed.......

 

Thanks Squirrelman, I thought they were some kind of drain for the carbs and couldn't see anything missing in the service manuals, just wanted to check and be sure. Glad I'm not missing anything major. Carbs were really gunked up inside. Spent hours cleaning just one carb so the other three should keep me busy for the rest of the week! New carb boots ordered too, the old ones are more like hard plastic than rubber, there is no way the carbs will fit back on with those ones. Fingers crossed it will be running by next weekend

 

Pay particular attention to cleaning the choke tubes, they can be difficult to open up when clogged. Use a fine wire and twist and push it into the choke tube hole, a piece of guitar string works well.

 

To be fair, the choke tubes seem to be fine and operate well without any sticking. Just the usual varnish in the jets and bottom of the float bowl at the moment.

 

To clarify, I'm referring to the choke tubes that are inside the float bowl. The passages from the choke valve to the pickup tube can become clogged.

 

And they clog worst just at the point where the normal fuel level sits, usually about 10mm in. In addition to Creaky's pushing and twisting in the wire, i've found that pecking seems to work best. Drip some carb cleaner into the hole for awhile before your pecking, your pushing, or your twisting. You can also add cleaner into the choke plunger hole as it will drip down to the pickup tube.