Triumph Repair: Stromberg carb adjustment, needle nose pliers, triumph spitfire

Question
Thanks for taking your time to read this and for any advice. I have a 1972 triumph spitfire with 60,585 original miles. I began noticing or smelling gas under the lower bowl and appears to have seaped through the O ring. I was told to buy a kit and replace all gaskets.  Prior to this, the engine was running fine with no major idling issues. I only replaced the diaphragm, the gasket float and O ring plug. This cured the gas leak. Upon starting it up,it idled very high and after adjusting this, although it still idled a little high,it began to stall after driving down the road upon coming to a stop i.e. stop sign/light. At this point it stalls out (like its starving for gas), even though I tried to give it gas. I have not adjusted the Needle nor do I have the so called proper tool to adjust it. Any advice?
Thank You

Answer
Miguel,

The "so called" proper tool for adjusting the float level is a pair of Needle Nose pliers.  Sears sells them, as does Home Depot, Lowes and other hardware stores.

With the float bowl off and the float pushed up fully against the needle the bottom of the float should be 16-17mm from the float bowl flange on the carb.  It's much easier to do with the carb removed from the engine but it can be done with the carb still installed.

Cheers,

Jim