A couple of months ago a few people(including myself),had trouble with fuel leakage out of the overflow tube on their machines. I had replaced the needle and seat, and didn't really solve the problem.

When I opened the carb up, it really didn't have a float level. The float could rise all the way to the top. I brought it down level, or with a ruler, 7/32 from the middle to the middle of the float. I rode all day, no fuel smell, easy starting when cold, and normal idle.

Rainman

 

So what had happened, did the tab on the float that presses on the needle bend with a beating ride over time or what?

 

Not sure how the adjustment became that far off.