Float valve needle

I believe it is silver colored metal shaft (chrome colored). I've  never seen a black one. The old needle valves from two decades ago had a red rubber tip which was supposed to be changed for the black tip upgrade a couple decades ago.

Just found SI-912-012 R1 from 2004.

Prior to this, 912 and 914 used the one with a nickel plated pin which has a soft spring, 912S used the one with a black pin, denoting a stiff spring - which it certainly is.

After this SI all models should use one with a gold coloured pin which has .... a medium strength spring (ah you guessed!) part no 261706.

The ULS changed at no 4429091, mine is 4428986 so was one of the last with black pins.

So if you're seeing lots of nickel plated ones, Roger, either it's changed again but I haven't found it, or this SI is being disregarded.

Hard to believe it will be very critical.

The ones I'm  getting in the Bing carb overhaul kits are the nickel  plated stem ones.