Updates!
Still trying to tune up the vm18. I am pretty close at a 17.5 idle and 70 main. Clip 1 up from center. I can get response from the bike pretty well throughout the throttle, but plugs look lean.
The only time I rode the bike any distance and hit a top speed of 38mph I had a 22.5 idle and 100 main with the clip at the top notch. The plugs also came out lean.
I am thinking that I need a different needle. One that is thinner at the bottom and has a more aggressive taper. That would let me leave the needle in a leaner position but get richer faster and have a little richer cruise position.
But that leads me to a decision. Shelve the vm18 for a bit until I can get some local help with it and get a 16sha for simplicity to get the bike going. That way I can focus on the clutch and have some fun riding this build. Or I get the needles and spend a another whole day trying to tune something I understand very little about.
Second is the clutch. I have the stock 2 shoe. I turned in the springs one full turn from their stock position. I opted to try the 0w motor oil so I have it filled with 0w20. Running it down the street a few times working out the carb it would start to feel sluggish after the bike warmed up. It seemed to have trouble grabbing and letting the engine get into the pipe. But I am not sure right now if this is due to the clutch slipping too much or grabbing to early. Or if it is not clutch related and more carb related. Another reason to try out the sha.
I do have a 16sha on another bike I can grab for some testing. I am just hoping my throttle will work for the sha. It is one of those motion pro short twists.