HIF44 SU problems

[Hans Efde]

I am having trouble with my carburettor (I think, checked the ignition and it seems fine). The mixture goes lean and the engine looses power. I've now also had the carb overflowing (second time), so I took the SU out, opened the float chamber. Haynes says float not properly set or sticking needle valve.
I checked the needle valve but at first glance it is clean and works. Any idea how I can determine if it sticks? Could I rub it with sandpaper (the outer plastic housing) to make it smoother?

Anyway I thought maybe it was a problem with the float. With the carb upside down it seemed to sit a bit high. According the Haynes you have to keep the needle valve shut, so I pushed the float until the needle closed (use a tube connected to the carb and blowed on it until the needle blocked the hole) and adjusted the float just below the edge of the chamber (0,5 to 1mm lower).
Yesterday I retested it and it is worse. The car starts and runs stable on idle. But when I floor it, the mixture goes lean and the engine dies. It starts immediately afterwards and stationary it can be revved. But too much throttle when on the move and it goes lean again.

Have I wrongly adjusted the float. Should it be set on the correct level just hanging on the valve without being pushed in? Or could it still be a sticking needle valve problem? How can I solve that?

[Hans Efde]

Ha, found a good video of the float adjustment. clearly I have misinterpreted the Haynes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPCfwkIdWpc

[Hans Efde]

It's sorted. Adjusted the float and (again) cleaned the float needle. Car pulls frisk now. Still an issue with a bit too lean in the mid range and too rich at stationary,but that's my mistake. I put the needle in the drilling machine and ground a bit off, but I removed too much from the base and too little from the mid section. Perhaps the engine builder has a better needle for me, else I keep it this way until the conversion to injection. I hope to start that project in october.