Brownie1,

I'm not a carburetor expert but it seems to me that if the float is adjusted properly, isn't full of gas or binding on the side of the chamber then it should shut the fuel off. If all this is true then I would look for a piece of debris in the seat area.

It only takes a tiny piece of crud to hold that needle off the seat and flood the carburetor. Look closely.

I don't know about your tapered spring issue but I know there are two check balls that must be in the proper position in order for the accelerator pump to squirt. If you have the rebuild sheet from the kit I would scrutinize it and make sure everything was in its proper place.

Stuart