Trouble finding Mikuni butterfly carb parts for 78 Spitfire

[Medina_Spitefire]

Hey guys, I recently bought a non running 1978 Spitfire with a Mikuni butterfly carb. This JD sled is new to me and from what I've been reading it seems the Mikuni slide valve carb is the "common" or "popular" unit on the Kolher 340. I have a Mikuni butterfly carb and I took it apart to clean it since the sled hasn't run in 15 years. I found that the carb is missing the float valve. Anyone know where I can find parts for this Mikuni carb? I looked on Mikuni's site, no luck. I've searched for used Mikuni butterfly carbs with no luck. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Or should I just swap to a slide valve carb?

Thanks for your help,
Mike

[Old sled guy]

Butterfly mikunis are the most temperamental carbs of all time I have an 80 spitfire that had a butterfly carb on it and that carb was awful from idle mix screws backings out on the trail to the float getting stuck down and flooding the engine I tried to fix it example rebuild, clean but still the same and rebuild kits never fit. Since than I switched to a slide valve and everything about the machine is better more power better starting and better throttle response if you like using your sled switch to a slide valve.

[Medina_Spitefire]

Hi Evan, thanks for the insight! I was not aware how bad the Mikuni butterfly carburetor was. I will convert mine over to the slide valve. Thanks again for your help.

Mike