Well, I did the two pieces black this week after I cut the hot tube out. I mounted everything this morning. It's so bloody hot I was sorry I started.
The system is totally open now with the hot tube removed so I knew I would go lean (& loud). I left the needle at the same height, traded the 15 Pilot for a 17.5 & set the mixture screw to one (1) full turn out.
Two kicks with no enrichener & she started & was purring like a kitten. I let it run 'til it started smoking & shut 'er down. Went up & drank a gallon of water & went back down in an hour. Started & purred first kick. Ran it again 'til it smoked.
Put some clothes on then (hated to) & went for a ride. Rode for about a half hour in 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th up & down & around. No flat spots, no bogging down, no popping or farting, just silky smoothness. I'm very close. Just might need some fine tuning on the mixture probably.