Okay, when I removed the stock needle from my carb there was no spring. The needle is very much "fixed" in place and the whole assembly is what moves up and down on the diaphragm spring.

With my aftermarket needle, I accidently lost the spring when it shot out trying to put it back in the carb. So, knowing that the stock needle was stationary, to me, that means that the aftermarket can be too. So, I cut a spacer from a plastic bolt and placed it between the needle and the cap. Voila, needle stays nicely in place.

It would seem that the only reason there is a spring with the aftermarket needle is to allow the variability of adjustment and the spring keeps the needle pressed to the bottom. But, that's my unmechanical opinion. However, if there are those out there that know definitively that this isn't the case, please let me know why. Thanks!

FYI - My bike behave EXACTLY the same with my spacer method as it did with the spring.

I believe the stock settup from the factory has the spring on top of the needle. I lost that little booger too and I had to order a whole stock needle set for about $30 just to get the spring, but I was going back to stock intake anywho.

you may try cutting down the spring from a clicker ink pen.

steal the spring off your lawnmower...

Flashback wrote:
steal the spring off your lawnmower...

Or better yet off of the lawn mower from next door.. lol

gunsngears wrote:
you may try cutting down the spring from a clicker ink pen. Actually that is exactly what I did after searching all over my shop for the one that took flight! It worked while I waited on the new one to come it! I drove to MtCheaha that weekend and rode over 600 miles in 3 days, worked great!

Here's my question though... when I pulled the stock needle out, there was no spring there and the jetting hadn't been messed with prior to. The stock needle (at least in my bike) doesn't appear to need one as it doesn't move so a spring would be pointless. Given that, why should I need one on the aftermarket needle?

You're needle should have had a spring on it. There is a nub on the bottom of the plastic plug that it fits on. If it is solid everytime it drops down into the main you will be wearing a groove in the needle and / or wearing out the hole in the main.

My stock needle had a little spring on it. Those little jobbies sure are easy to lose.

All that given now... any ideas why my stock needle stays put and doesn't move a bit? A spring would make no difference on with that needle...