Thanks Max!
especially for your help with the fork seal change.
I put a pic in the "done but never again post".
I took a pic of the muffler, I think it's an original muffler:
So I don't think that's the problem.
I wasn't in the mood today to empty the tank, take the seat and risers off, then the tank, and then the carb.
So what I did was take the float bowl off just to take a peak inside. I did take the main jet out, but it looks nice and clean.
then i looked at the pilot jet (with a little mirror looking up) and saw that the thread on it (flathead slot) looked pretty shredded. I tried to loosen it but couldn't so I left it as is.
I did stick a tiny wire up in there to see if it was clogged, and sprayed some cleaner in there.
Next thing I did is bent the floats down just a tad (the manual said that if they float higher (and pushing the pin in I guess) that it runs richer. So I thought might as well try it.
The bottom of the float has a bunch of mud looking gunk in it though, so I cleaned it out. I also cleaned the small little hole in that copper pin think that hung down.
After I reassemble it I put the petcork on PRI and opened the drain valve in case some more gunk might come out.
I do think I need to replace a few parts, there were slivers of metal coming out.
The bike started right back up and then died right away.
After a couple of starts it kept running however. I messed a little with the pilot screw again and I did notice just a tad of difference this time. But now what happened is that the screw can only turn 2 turns to the right or two turns to the left to be totally stuck ???
I took it for a spin and it actually didn't die without the choke out, wonder over wonder. It did die at an intersection, I think I had the idle too low.
I messed around a little more and took it for a second spin, and I think it runs better!!
I'll find out tomorrow when I need to go for a longer drive to my class.