XT 550 tickover grief ...

Hi All,
I have just acquired a 1983 Yamaha XT 550. When I can get the bugger started it has a knack of not liking to tickover after it has done any kind of distance (like the end of my street).
It will tickover from cold for a while with the screw set to 2000rpm but will again eventually die.
So where do I start in trying to diagnose this?
Is it fuelling ( the state of the carbs??)
Is it a dodgy electrical component? (battery seems fine..)

Gaz (not a bike mechanic)

not sure but..

A long while back I had an XT500 and warn float needles in the carb caused me similar grief until i replaced them.

aah, thanks, that ties in with what someone else has told me.

Question is - how can I tell if they are worn?

Gaz said:

Question is - how can I tell if they are worn?

Click to expand...

Fit New ones if it works ok, then they were worn.

just thought i would say it before someone else did!!