I took my carb apart today since the bike seems to be very rich when you start it but it's fine after.  Subsequent starts without waiting a couple hours are fine.

I found a ring all the way around the rubber part of the needle valve.
Does this mean, as I believe, that it needs replacing?

Whap happened to the good ole metal on metal needles that never died?


Also had to replace my tank today due to severe rust inside the original.  It was severely rusty 5 years ago when I bought it but it has now rusted through.

Just a note on fitment.  The newer tank seems to be about a quarter inch longer and slightly narrower at the rubber mounts in the front.  Also the '87 gauge cluster fits quite tightly in the newer tank. It's not a perfect fit but nobody would ever notice it.  I'm not sure the year model of the tank I got. The person I bought it from didn't know the year either.