In my last stardate log entry I had LOST my CNS48 mid-range needle while attempting to fabricate a quickie replacement for the e-clip.
While attempting to crimp a short piece of a paperclip onto the needle with a pair of pliers, it flipped out of my fingers, bounced off the wall, then ricochetted off my desktop PC monitor, before landing somewhere unknown in my workspace.
I would have preferred dropping it on the floor in a carburetor repair shop !
Two or three hours later, after sorting through and nearly organizing any number of open containers, boxes of various items, looking bit by bit through a large, open desk drawer, AND sweeping dust bunnies for a while so I could crawl around on the floor behind the desk, I gave up.
I got a needle from an NT carb...
I'll make a new post in the carb section on that.
So this morning, (T-day!), I axed my better half to keep her eye open for a small metal part that resembled a #6 finish nail, on the floor...
LESS THAN 2 or 3 MINUTES LATER, she handed the carb needle to me!
What a girl !
And she CAN cook!
I took it for a test run with the NT needle installed and got just as good low end performance, perhaps a bit less 4 stroking through the range, and *maybe* one more mph on the top end for my best speed to date on level ground.
I did not run through the radar speed sign, though.
Bottom line; a paperclip, (even a small one), is NOT a good choice for an emergency e-clip on the carb needle. The wire is far too stiff on even a small clip.
... and a twisty bread wrapper tie is too wimpy...
I ended up using the center conductor from less than an inch of CATV coax for a temp - fix option. It's abt 20-22ga copper plated solid conductor.
(Have not yet run it because the NT needle is in there now.)
rc