Low Speed Needle Valve Washers Being Crushed

[Sunken Ship]

Rebuilt carb. a few months ago and the two cork washers (#13 on diagram(75 40HP)) were in pretty rough shape. I only tightened them until I felt resistance on the low speed needle valve per the service manual instructions. Then the needle valve was flopping around so I tightened it down again. Is there a trick to keeping this tight that I do not know. I got a couple new cork washers, but want to figure this out before I toss them in and destroy them again.

Thanks

 

[oldboat1]

I like to take out the expansion plug, and test fit the needle to see -- get the feel of seating it that way. But that's while rebuilding.

Hard to advise without doing it -- will be resistance from the friction of the washers, but a snug feel when the needle seats (might be more firm than you are expecting, but good to be careful). If the needle feels loose (as in flopping around), it isn't seated. In any case, when finally seated it is tightened in place with the gland nut that screws into the outside carb body, with the needle fitted through it. Not too tight there either -- just enough to keep the setting in place when the engine vibrates.

edit. With the needle out, slide/work the washers down the shaft about half way or so -- leave threads open on the point end so the threading will catch the carb body. The gland nut snugs the needle by compressing the washers (not exactly "crushing" -- compressing).