Slanthead Tuning

I've been doing alot of reading on 2-strokes, squishbands, plug orientation, compression. My motor is a zoom 80 with slanthead. It came with 2 thin headgaskets. Now that it is well broken in I have been fooling around with stuff. I had removed one of the head gaskets with no clearance issues. Leaned the needle all the way to the top notch with the clip. It was running pretty well at WOT but I had it too lean at mid so the second notch is best for mine. I also started having a pinging sound I thought maybe the piston was hitting the head. But I opened it up a couple times and it isn't. The problem was too much compression causing predetonation. I've gone back to 2 headgaskets and that went away. I tried higher octane gas but it really made little difference. Maybe once the cylinder gets worn one gasket will extend the life. I'm having good luck with a NGK b7hs cooler plug, seems like I have more low torque with the same top end speed. With the head off and the plug in the firing area is nearly centered in the compression chamber so I don't think mounting it either way would matter. It's running the best it ever has now. Still planning on a expansion chamber to give it a little more on hill climbs. I'd appreciate hearing what's working for you. Especially with aftermarket carbs. There's only so much you can do with the stock one. I been following the carb threads but haven't seen anyone really say ok this is the one. This is the carb I've been looking at. Anyone using this one?

49cc / 47cc Performance Carburetor / Carb Pocket Bike:eBay Motors (item 140322240326 end time Jun-20-09 07:39:12 PDT)

Goat Herder, Are you getting a gear whine, vibration, rattley noise from the clutch/drive gears? This is my only ***** with this motor. I can't seem to get it to stop but then I've heard all the brands do it? Does yours?

It does have a squish band. Next time I have it off I'll take a pic. It's about a 1/4" to reduce the chamber area. As far as the compression it raises it pretty good. Just going with one headgasket on my motor instead of the two it came with made it too high. I'd totally tell you to try one. I am sold on the cooler plugs too. I have better power with them. Haven't tried a 9 yet but going from a 5 to a 7 was a very noticable gain in torque. I did wetsand and polish the chamber with mothers alum polish. I really dunno if it helped but I liked it.