Super Jet mikuni carb internal filter clogging

[Pablo]

I've talked to Art Gomez before about this and he has told me that a carb can be very sensitive to any trash in the internals. I thought I'd try and get some feedback from those that have had experience with carbs being finicky.

I just tore my carb down to inspect it. My internal filter on the carb was about 1/8 full with trash in the bottom of it. Looked like it had a mix of lint and sand. I blew it clean with some carb cleaner.

When trash accumulates in the filter is it a likely scenario that the debris can prevent the needle from seating and allowing enough fuel to pass through upon starting to cause "flooding" to occur?

I'm assumning the fuel is pumped from the filter/pump side up into the seat and it lifts the needle and then is pulled through the other jets for metering into the engine. My engine acts as though it's being flooded and my only explanation is that this debris is keeping the needle wide open.

 

[Waternut]

I can't see how debris in the filter would allow the needle to stay open since the debris can't get to the needle. It could be causing a variable fuel flow and pressure which would make tuning impossible though.

 

[RoTAxGreNade]

Pop off gauge will tell the story - They are worth every penny and can save a lot of guess work.
I have had MANY needles that looked good to the eye but would weep pressure ever so slightly and once I fixed that I never needed a primer to start my engine cold or hot.
Maybe take a look at your check valve ( the tiny sliver of clear plastic on the kidney shaped valve body - long shot but you never know