hello all, my 73 commando was running slightly erractic at low throttle, not holding steady in 2nd gear (kind of surging) at about 2800 rpm. it ran great at high end. thought i would sync the carbs, and adjust the valves at the same time. it had been 3000 or so miles since either. also noticed the push on connector going to the zener diode was hanging by a thread. so....adjusted the carbs, (using the 3/16 " drill bit method) adjusted the valves, and twisted the 2 brown wires to the diode (is this okay?) and sodered them to a new connector. when i started the bike it idled okay, but missed when i revved it up. a quick test run and it ran like crap, missing, popping, some backfire, not nearly like it ran before i started. it was running on both cylinders. so i did it all again, found a couple of valves alittle tight, redid them, had 12.8 volts to the zener diode (is this correct?) started over with the carbs. (i had also cleaned and re-oiled my k&n air filter.) with most of the weekend gone, i went mt. biking. tommorrow i will try again. my question is, if the valves are not right (i followed the norton workshop manual ie. when the left intake is at the top of its stroke, adjust the right to .006 same sequence with the exhaust but .008) would it have those symtoms? the carbs seemed synced? if the exhaust valves were tight and i ran it 5 minutes could i do damage? i have adjusted the carbs and valves before and had no problem like this. am i missing the obvious? i am not experienced mechanic but can follow directions. sorry for the rambling, but this is the first time i could not ride my bike away after working on it. thanks in advance to any who answer. cheers, jerome