Super XL's w/ Zama Carb

[OBR]

Alright, I've got one...anyone else out there have a Super with a Zama carb? Opinions of the reliability, etc. versus the Wally carbed counterparts?

Mine has given me nothing but trouble...I got it out to cut down a tree yesterday...pain to start (granted its below zero, but i brought it in to warm it up before starting) Finally got it started, kept dying out when i hit the throttle, even after warmed up. Richened up the jets to accomodate the cold whether, made a cut and was running way too fast...shut it down. Started it back up idled ok...but still ran out too fast, adjusted the high jet further and couldn't get it to four-stroke at all... so it went away for the day. This thing has a history of being an extremely finicky starter..it floods easily. Is it the carb? or something else? Personally I think these zama's are junk as I've got a walbro carbed model and it's never had these issues...

[MCS]

I have two SXL's with Zama carburetors and both seem to run O.K. One is just sitting on the shelf as backup. I don't recall them being finicky.
Zama as a site with technical information. Maybe that will help.
www.zamacarb.com
I looked through the Tech Guide and from what I see, these carburetors are just clones of the US made carburetors.
In the above link, read the letter under News. Somewhat interesting, Stihl picked up the company except for the US facility.

Of the old Homelites, the charts only shows Zama carburetors on the XL-12, SXLAO, 330, and some of the little XLs.

Back to the original problem:
It says in the tech info that the idle circuit has some effect on high speed but I see you've already opened up the jets.
Any carburetor, whether a T, W, or Z, can have problems and when Homelite was using these, I'm sure they tested them for good operation. Maybe the Z carburetor diaphragms have reacted with the gas and changed their characteristics.
I know on some problems I had with the old reliable carbs, I would have to remove the welsh plug to clean up the nozzles and on some there was a screen in the high circuit. The screen was not there as a filter, it was a "wet" valve, but it did sometimes get plugged.
I don't know what is inside the jet cavities of the Zamas and whether there is anything like that.

[925fetish]

Zama isn't a bad carb,but I do prefer a T or a W.Put a full kit in it needle,rocker,gaskets,and diaphragms.If you do it correctly I bet it will run 100%better.I always install a new needle because the tip gets saturated w/fuel,turns to varnish,makes it sticky,slows the needles movement and the carb ceases to meter the fuel correctly.