90s CB500 Carb Removal

[Serendipity]

Hi all

After years of sublime service the old 1995 CB500 is idling rough. I normally run it every few months and generally only use it in heatwave weather because it's a little cooler sat in traffic on the CB500 rather than the CBF1000.

Last time I fired it up it would stall on idle even once properly warm so I adjusted the idle speed as a temporary workaround and used it to commute for a few days. However the poor idle continued. So now, after a few more months of standing under a sheet in the garage I'm going for a clean and check of the carbs.

https://i.imgur.com/g6M32xyh.jpg

Following the Haynes has gone well so far and draining the carbs has shown where the problem most likely is coming from.

https://i.imgur.com/wVhdWIih.jpg

Hmmm, in these tea leaves I see my future involves a carb and fuel tank clean and maybe an inline fuel filter.

So far so good.... however...

Any tips for pulling the carbs off the inlet stub rubbers? All clips are fully loosened and the airbox is free to move backwards so there's plenty of clearance. I can get a little bit of movement, but the carbs seem super tight into the rubbers.

Is it a wiggle or just a man-up-and-pull sort of thing?
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2007 CBF1000-ABS - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[Serendipity]

Ignore me. They're off. Brute force wins the day.

Feel free to volunteer any other good tips for carb overhaul though.
____________________
2007 CBF1000-ABS - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation