1985 FJ600 Ressurection

[Kadettgek]

What colour does the spark of cal 1 & 3 have?  I put in new plugs and #1&3 didn't show any combustion i.e. shiny new electrode.  #2&4 did show combustion.  As previous, when I did the gas-in-plug hole test I did get them to fire up for a secend.  After several of these there looked like there was some soot starting to build up on them.
Put a spark plug into the cap and hold it against the engine block. See what that does.
You can also test the spark in cil 2 &4 this way. (it will spark during if you try to start it).  I've done this and there was spark from all 4 cables.  But like I've been saying I get mildly zapped when I take the cable off the plugs for 1&3 when it's running.

If you get a spark it is more likely a fuel problem. You won't be the first one to have float needles stuck after a carb rebuild.
Try tapping (gently) on the side of the carbs. this might loosen them a bit. I installed new float needle sets when I cleaned out the carbs, so I don't think this should be the case.  I'll be checking them again over the winter though.

One last idea, highly unlikely, but possible and does not see from pictures if you have done this.
If PO tightened pilot screws too tight, it is possible, that when you have tried to loosen those, brass bolt is broken into halves and spike got stuck inside, so even if you are able to turn it counter clockwise to add fuel for idle, it is still fully closed.
Seen this only once on Japanese bike, but....
try to take out all pilot screws ad check if they are OK. That's certainly something I've never heard of before.  I'll double check this winter, but everything seemed ok when I blew out all the ports.  And I didn't have any leftover bits when I was finished too! 

Thanks for the input guys.  I'll keep it in mind when it all comes back together.... 

So you have got an adequate spark. And you got a bit of a cough from the engine when you poured in some fuel.
Also you have worked on the carbs. Therefore I believe it is a fuel problem.
An easy check is to unscrew the drainplug of the carbs and check if there is fuel coming out.