Allot of axle hop is new driver. They go into the turn fast and shallow then try to make the turn all at once in the middle. Your kart develops tremendous lateral G force and takes a bite then either bicycles up or releases and repeats. Slow down and go much deeper and wider before you turn.
For price karting runs the gambit from very expensive to super cheap. I found a good used frame for $450 and bought a new engine from Harbor freight for $60, I transport everything in the back of a pick up truck and I’m having a ball with it. Some people buy a new $5000 chassis every year and new tires every track session.
No, you want them as new as possible before the feature race. You’ll get max life by rotating them left to right once during the day and turning them around on the wheel between events.
Try low 1-1/4 and high 3/4 and I think you’ll find that rich enough for a new rebuild. Your final race setting might be something like 1 turn low 1/2 turn high. Just make sure the fuel tubing connection at the carb doesn’t leak air and don’t take the spark plug out when the engine’s hot.
Drilling that hole ensures enough fuel feeds the low needle before metering. Of course you have to pull the welsh plug to clean up because chips go everywhere.
I would pick several critical rpms and look at the egt at those rpms and see what changes happen with adjustments. Highest egt at the lowest rpm on track might not be the best for lap times if it starves for fuel when you punch it so, you may have to develop good numbers with the seat of the pants indicator.
