Carb jet needle question

[jfmerk]

I'm finishing up my full restoration of a '78 standard. While rebuilding the carbs, I noticed the jet needle clip was set from center: one groove towards rich. The jets are 137.5, the float heights are all right in the middle of the specified range at 1.010", +/- .005".

I have no experience with how this bike ran other than driving it 3 miles to my house (5 years ago) where upon I immediately proceeded to tear it apart. I did notice what seemed to be quite a bit of carbon on the valves, piston tops, exhaust manifold etc. Valve seats were pitted too.

I've rebuilt the motor to standard specs, no modifications of any kind, light hone of the cylinders, new rings and a complete valve job: all new guides, ground seats and valves etc.

Should I put the clip on the jet needle back to the center "standard" position?

Or is this no big deal and just see how it runs the way they are?

Thanks!

[Rasputin]

If I was doing it I would set everything back to stock positions and start from there. As it is a resto I imagine you have stock pipes and airbox, so that is what I would start with. The bike will let you know how to move from there if necessary as in black sparkplugs, cold pipes, missing, stumbling, popping on decel Etc.

[natemoen]

I agree with Rasputin, start from the center stock position and work from there.

[dbeardslee]

Might want to check and make sure they're the stock needles. Stock are 5GZ6-3's. They should say 5GZ6 on the needle just under the clip notches.

[jfmerk]

Thanks everyone for all the input! Needles are stock, so I'll be setting the needles back to the stock setting and go from there.

Taking a week off of work to make some serious progress. I'll be turning the key within a few weeks!