ARGH! Damn needles

[blitzkraig]

So I ordered new main jets and needles from Ztherapy. After comparing the new jets to the old ones I found that the old ones were very worn, leading to the rich condition on my polished 4 screws. So I put in the new jets, but I couldn't get the new SM needles to seat right. I believe that the clearance between the needle base and the hole in the piston is slightly too big so when I tighten the set screw the needle gets cockeyed and makes the piston stick. I decided to use the needles from my rebuild kit instead. Now these needles need a bit of work to get in the piston, but I've done it before. The first one went in fine with a set of vice grips (barely scratched the needle surface), but the second one snapped right at the base!!!!!! Now I have about 1.5 mm of needle sticking out of the piston and I can't get a good enough grip with the vice grips to pull it out!!!! HELP!!!! I don't want to junk these beautiful polished carbs just because of my stupidity!

And while we're at it, is there a way I can get those slightly loose SM needles to sit right in the piston??:dead: :dead:

[Doehring]

Blitzkraig, I had a similar problem. I took that little screw at the side of the piston, that fixes the needle, out , put W40 in and let it soak over night. Í than cleaned the needle and took a stripe of leather around the needle as a protection against scratces by the vice grip that I used carefully. From the other side I tried to move the needle with a little screwdriver through the hole of the fixing screw. It took some time but it worked. The problem seems to be that the fixing screw hurts the needle's shoulder and that little deformation makes the needle stick. When it's out sand it with a very fine wet sandpaper until it fits smoothly.

Good luck

Rolf