Here are a couple of updates. Changed the oil again to see if there was fuel in the oil. It’s all good now. I set my valve clearances, cleaned the carb (again) checked the jets, they are the right size, nothing is in the wrong place. Also checked the spark plug, doesn’t show running rich. I’ve looked up and down for fuel leaks and cannot find them. I think the next thing to check is compression

ThumperPaul wrote on 04/11/23 at 12:26:48:

So I replaced the needle but not the brass piece it sits in. The screw that holds the brass piece in on mine is stripped to hell. Perhaps a screw extractor is in order

ThumperPaul wrote on 04/12/23 at 05:56:42:

Yeah I’ve got another screw for it and the needle valve seat, I may just tape off the jets and take a screw extractor to it

Instead of struggling with that little screw and risk wrecking the carb, why don't you simply test it.  

Remove the float bowl, hold the float up to seat the needle, turn on the gas and observe the joint in question.  Keep the float held up for a couple of minutes to make absolutely sure that the needle valve doesn't leak and the o-ring around the seat doesn't leak.  If you don't observe any fuel leaking, then those components are OK.

Sure would be a shame to trash the carb trying to remove that teeny weeny screw.

Have you checked the float to make sure it isn't full of gasoline?  Sometimes the floats spring a leak and fill up with gas.  That makes the float less buoyant and throws the float level way off.   

LuigiFromCars wrote on 04/12/23 at 11:51:01:


Smart idea Mike, but I personally prefer to remove the carb.  Trying to work in the bowl while it's on the bike - I find it a pain in the behind (or I drop a screw down under the starter because I didn't use a catch rag - doh!)  When he said the screw was stripped, that also seemed like a clue.  My guess is some newbie tried to tighten the screw to fix the leak.  To be cleared about my issue - it was a worn out o-ring.  I should have been clearer initially.