Are you sure the linkage is set up properly and the shafts in the carbs aren't too tight?
Do they snap back to the closed position if you manually open the shaft where the linkage attaches?
Yes sorry - I should have said ... I've been wrangling with this for a while so the most obvious basics are covered.
The throttles snap back against their stops when released, and with the screws backed out fully the butterflies are fully closed.
this after burn s happening with the throttles back on their stops, which make me think air is coming in somewhere else.
but I've been round the manifold interfaces with carb cleaner, unlit blowtorch etc to try and see where it might be getting sucked in - no success.
timing checked, valve clearance etc
given its not a street engine, it feels like it wouldn't be unusable like this, so I wondered if I was chasing too much perfection ... or equally if my standards should be higher than this!
Stewart