"Ridge" in float needle

[Rooster]

I'm doing the carb rebuild tutorial and have a question as to how to identify:

"...the tip free of wear (if you feel a ridge on the tapered portion of the needle it needs to be replaced)."

Is that the spring side or the sharp pointed side?

[chuck hahn]

pointed side..but usually this will only apply to the rubber tipped ones. Metal tip ones rarely have damage.

[Nessism]

I've seen metal tips with wear ridges before. The needle spring often gets soft to, which is bad since it effects the ability of the float to shut off fuel flow.

Z1 Enterprises sells packages of needles. Not exactly cheap, but what is one to do?

[chuck hahn]

I did say RARELY and not never.

[Rooster]

Okay, well I can't really find a ridge on mine. There is a little circular mark (but it rubbed away) that looks like it's just from sitting in the other piece (name!? newb..), so I think I'm alright.