Hey heads up...it sounds like your talking about the inlet needle on the float, there should be a rubber tip on it and at the other end is a spring loaded "pin" sticking out of it and it should move freely, it puts extra pressure on the valve to help stop the flow. If your float needle doesn't stop the flow, the gas will pour out of the overflow....if the float is "out of adjustment" you have to buy new floats...they are plastic and not adjustable. If you missing the O ring on the choke plunger it could be letting fuel past it, as far as the main needle goes, you lower the main needle to make it leaner, you raise the needle to richen it...

(bottom) ---------lllll- (top)
richer< >leaner

Factory setting is second notch from the top. Pilot screw is 2 turns out from lightly seated (starting point), and zero gap on the linkage that "syncs" the butterfly and slide..