Yeah thanks Norm,
A second new needle sorted out the excess fuel consumption and the smoking.
I guess this is what happens with imported plastic / fantastic needles from China (or from where ever they're made?
The rpm is still up and own like the proverbial whores draws so I still have some issues with the mongrel. It now idles beautifully when the throttle is set in the stop position (electrical cut out switch disconnected) but the engine stops when the throttle is slowly moved to the start position. If I move the throttle rapidly through the start position so that it doesn't stop, the engine roars into life at full rpm but then the speed becomes erratic when the throttle is moved into any position between 3/4 throttle and start position.
... I've just about ran out of ideas on how to fix it - I've tried different cams, different springs, different main jets, different pipette valves and its positioning in the body relative to the fuel spray hole ...... I noticed the newer popettes have the letter A,C, O and a dot inscribed on the under side and that the moulding has ports moulded into them that blank off the fuel spray hole in the carby body when the pipette is set in a particular orientation. Through trial and error I've noticed that the engine runs best when the pipette is positioned with the letter "C" is aligned with the fuel spray hole. I think I now have one seriously screwed up carby and apart from purchasing a new one, I'm unsure what to do next.
- Bumps
