VM34 carbs running away and firing back through carbs

[Itsmorphinetime]

I've just installed my VM34s from mikes XS on my 75 XS650. Current setup:

Straight scrambler pipes with Uni foam filters.

Idle screw 4 turn out
Air screw 1.5 turns out
Main jet: 175
Idle jet: 15
Needle jet: 159
Needle clip: second from bottom
Elevation:5300


Will only start if I cover the carbs with my hand and kick it over a few times. Then it starts up revving incredibly high until it backfires through the carbs and dies. Clearly this setup is very wrong but I'm unsure of where to start. Any suggestions/advice?

 

[Signal]

Some things to try, check for air leaks, slides moving freely, slides in the correct way ( I have seen them installed backwards several times).
For completeness what is the needle you have?
Was the bike running on your old set up?

 

[Itsmorphinetime]

Thanks for the response.

Needle: 6F9.
Slide:2.0
The bike was running on stock carbs just fine.

And here I must admit I've done something quite silly. It seems in the excitement of installing my shiny new carbs, I misassembled the throttle assembly resulting in the cables being pulled ever so slightly. Here you can see the slides before and after. I'll give it a start and see how it runs now.

 

[Itsmorphinetime]

I had to modify the throttle tube to fit and now there is no longer any tension on the throttle cable. It still only starts with my hand covering the carbs intake, but will idle appropriately. Now it is begging when I twist the throttle and backfires out the pipes a little.

 

[gggGary]

To repeat what Signal said. Looks like you have the left slide in the right carb and right slide in left carb, reverse them you should be good to go. the cutout needs to face the air filter.
Don't ask why I know this is possible.

 

[Itsmorphinetime]

To repeat what Signal said. Looks like you have the left slide in the right carb and right slide in left carb, reverse them you should be good to go. the cutout needs to face the air filter.
Don't ask why I know this is possible.

View attachment 340572

View attachment 340573

It looks like I do have the correct orientation, with the sloped half of the slides bottom facing the air filter.

 

[Itsmorphinetime]

Some things to try, check for air leaks, slides moving freely, slides in the correct way ( I have seen them installed backwards several times).
For completeness what is the needle you have?
Was the bike running on your old set up?

I've got it idling now with idle 3 turns out and air 1 turn out, same jets. Now the issue is it seems to be running rich, revving high with the choke off. With a main of 175 and needle clip second to bottom, which would be better to adjust first?

 

[Signal]

Now you have it running, refer to the carb guide it is very good.
https://www.xs650.com/attachments/vm34-36-pdf.248257/
I will bow out now and leave your questions to the carb people on the forum.