yeah... I knocked he edge down... blew it out w/ gumout n air. No loose metal bits.
Remarkably...my boots are in fairly good shape - being the originals on a '99. I never have a problem with 'em. I did hit 'em with silicone this time while I had the carbs out.
Got 'em back in... tank hooked up. Fired up w/o a problem. Got 'em synched, changed the oil, installed a 12v lighter socket that's been in the garage for YEARS. Then all buttoned up. Just in time for the rain
In the garage... it sounds like my dead-cylinder problem is gone. Seems to be running smoother. Took a no-contact voltage tester to make sure my stick coils were drawing power... that's all good.
Maybe it'll dry out enough for a shakedown cruise...