Carbs are off again. What now?

FWIW I think you have done an admirable job tracking down and correcting potential issues. Makes me think perhaps I should check that junk body for a similar issue.
Thanks.

Easy check first. Screw a mixture screw into the port and bottom it the way you normally would. If it doesn't screw in as far as the pictures I put here, there's a chance there is a broken screw tip in there. Second thing, remove the screw again and take a close look down there. You will see if the port is blocked or not. You need good light. I wouldn't be surprised if you find the same as I did.
 
Read the threads on this. Lots of people run VM34 Mikuni carburetors “Like a boss!” Those who struggle with the stock CVs also struggle with setting up VMs. FWIW, I recall @grizld1 recommended VM32.
CVs work great on the street once you get them right. Stay the course. Persevere.
This maybe an aside, but still relevant. I have been told, by a luminary in the XS650 field, that the VM carburetors are really a design for 2-strokes. The aerated design of the BS carburetor emulsion tube is much better for 4-strokes and makes these BS carbs better suited overall for the XS. I am not an expert on VM carburetors and would be curious to hear opinions.
 
If your going to loctite the screws, then why not just reuse the originals?
Good question. Yes, I could and I wouldn't have ordered the M3 x 8mm screws if I had known what I know now. The 8mm long ones that I bought sit deeper into the throttle shaft countersink and as a result are a bit too long. 6mm ones would have been better. 20:20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.
 
Let's play spot the repair ;)

IMG20240816190128.jpg
 
For completeness, here's what I used to plug the drilling on the mixture screw repair. Dropped a disc a couple of mm thick into the hole to prevent the epoxy from going somewhere you don't want it. Then pushed the prepared epoxy down into the hole firmly, ensuring any void is filled. Leave it overnight and the carburettors are going back on the bike to see the result.

IMG20240816190145.jpg
 
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