I’m working on a 7.5 Mercury (SN: 4089644) for a neighbor, and the carb was flooding. See link below for the carb it has. I’m confused by the parts lists. I went to order a float valve needle and seat, but found the seat is pressed in and not replaceable – Ok – the seat looks good anyway, and appears to be working. The needle shows as part number 1399-6141, but the description in the parts list (link attached, part #13), calls it a “Needle and spring” , although no spring shows in the photo. What I got shipped to me (and maybe when I ordered it a year ago I looked it up wrong, or maybe the part was substituted – I don’t have the paperwork any more, or maybe the spring is supposed to show on the part per the description in the parts list?) what I got was was part number 1395-9022 that does have a spring in one end. I put that in and the carb still floods. I tried adjusting the float a bit lower, and still floods when it’s running and also floods if I over-pump the primer bulb. On the bench, I can blow into the fuel line with the carb right-side up and not with it up-side down, so the float and valve are working. I’m trying to get it so it doesn’t drool out gas through the carb throat when I slightly over-pump the primer bulb after it is firm. I think if I can get to that point, it will no longer drool out the carb when it’s running and then quit.

The rest of the carb is clean and everything looks like it’s in good shape.

Should I be using the needle with the spring? The one that was in it has no spring…..or is that a no-no in this carb? With the spring, is the float level adjustment different than without the spring? If so, how do set it?
Thanks,
Dave
Link to carb parts list below, looked up by serial number of motor:
https://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercury-outboard-parts/75/3801458-thru-4851692-usa/carburetor-assembly-complete