Also something I'd be interested in knowing... I keep going back and forth between getting myself a carb sync setup or just taking it to my buddy's shop and having him do my carbs for $50... Either way it's something I'd like to take care of this winter..

 

Don't know if you can substitute the mercury for something else on this one. The tube passages are real small and if you went with a lighter liquid, it might just get sucked into the intake. This kit warns about revving the engine above 3K RPM for that same reason.
As for the dangers associated with mercury, if handled properly, it's no big deal. Now if you eat it or are exposed to it regularly, then yes it's bad. Lead is probably just as toxic.
Chuckbear, my plan is to check the valve clearances & adjust if necessary. Figured as long as I'm in there, might as well adjust the throttle bodies, which by itself, seems like pretty basic procedure. The old lady wants a bike next year, so that'll be five vehicles to maintain. It's more cost effective to DIY, which is the primary reason I work on vehicles at all, lol.

 

I'm with ya on the cost savings with DIY... but considering this will be the only carb cleaning/sync I'll do while I own this bike and I plan to go FI with a new bike, I'm thinking $50 is a pretty good deal for a carb clean/sync if I am only going to get one use out of a sync tool (and considering the time saved on my part). At the same time, I like the peace of mind going through it myself and knowing it's done to spec (even though I know the guy and am pretty confident I can trust him).

Decisions... decisions..