Does anyone do carb rebuilds? As in I ship it and they do it?  Mikuni off a dt3. I could possibly handle it but it may be best to have someone else do it.
thanks in advance 
principal 282

Allow me to encourage you to do it yourself.   I've rebuilt many Mikunis over the years, and this one is pretty simple.   I just completed a thorough rebuild of the same carb you have (if its the stock item)  off my DT3 and did benefit from some excellent assistance from MarkT.  I'm sure others would also answer any questions you have. 

yamaha-enduros.com/index.php/forums/1972...ageway-vm26sh#123437

Agreed. They are not very complicated, and as long as you are careful, even if you get in over your head, if you don't lose any parts, one of the members could still reassemble it if you feel uneasy once you are there.

A good starting point for a rebuild is to study this VM26SH carb in the Yamaha Manual, available in the Tech section of this forum, page 63.    The Clymer manual does a very poor job, on the other hand.
Then take it apart, and check to see if you have the correct jets.  Don't throw them away, as replacements are often of a lower quality.  You can replace individual jets or needles with Mikuni parts.  
YouTube has some OK videos of VM carb cleanouts, but don't take them as "the truth", as some have glaring errors.

TAKE...PICTURES! As you are dismantling the carb, take pictures so that if you can remember which way is which, you have pitcures of the way it came apart.

Rebuild is a scary word but nothing much to wear out unless exceptional things have been going on like riding in bad dust for years--then carb would be the least of the problems. Apart from old stale fuel gumming the jets up--if not 'that' then the main thing to replace is little Oring No7. If you wanted to push No4 out the top just screw a long screw in where No5 fits & give it a tap, but refitting it there's a side guide pin at the base where No5 fits in. Sorry maybe too much info at the moment. Bottom line--is there a running problem we can help with first. I guess any bike shop could do the carb but then again if they're not 'Old' like us, they'd not be familiar with the foibles of these early carbs--Oring trick & side main jet--probably stand there scratching head!!
www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcycle/1973/dt3/carburetor

Adding up the various jets and o rings and gaskets, is there a reason it wouldn't make more sense to buy a new mikuni from a reputable source for around 90 bucks?  Honest question. Maybe you just get the parts you really need? 

Yes, that is what I was saying previously.
Disassemble it and we'll see what you have..Its usually all good, sometimes even the gasket.

The mounting for this carb is a type that can't be purchased in aftermarket, I believe, but I might be wrong on that. 
That is, I don't think aftermarket carbs can be adapted to this bike easily. 

I see now online that you can buy mounting flanges to adapt an aftermarket or Mikuni carb, so you might be able to do it.

But your carb might be just fine once you clean it, and it has the advantage of being the original carb and the correct carb for the bike. 

For 99 bucks, a fellow in Florida will go through it for me and rebuild it. He has a good following on facebook and good reviews...
my eyes aren't what they used to be and my fingers are fat. 
But thanks for the encouragement  
The weekend has not been what I hoped. Gas tank leaking. Gas smell in garage. Lost my left blinker.  But new stuff here this week to shore up the petcock...get the carb done and back...the handlebar switch rebuilt...
two steps forward...