so i rebuilt my carb, following the haynes manual, and they don't really give a good representation of how to properly set it - from what i can tell, i push on the end so that the float is at it's highest level, then measure the distance from the float to the top of the metal rim, right? well i did so and it reads about 8 or 9/32 and it says it should be 11 - so am i supposed to take the float out and bend it or something?

 

Yep, you bend the float arm. There is a built-in weak spot in the arm on the float side of the fulcrum where you bend it.