Had to go through my carb due to a sticking needle valve. I followed the tutorial posted on this site (great info, step by step, helped me a bunch). The pilot and starting jets were both plugged. The bike starts great but I am having trouble with 1/2 to full throttle. I am leaning towards float height as the possible issue. I tried to set the float height as per the tutorial (17.5-18.5mm) but found I could only get it to around 20mm. The tab on the float had been messed with a lot and I ended up breaking it so I ordered a new float and needle valve. My question is what would cause a full throttle bog (under load). I am going to look at it this weekend again and want to know if I am setting the float height correctly and other issues that could cause this. To set float height I am taking the bowl of the carb while carb is still on the bike and letting the float down slowing until the needle valve starts letting fuel out and measuring the the bottom of the float to the bottom the carb bowl housing. During the cleaning of the carb and trying to set the float height as per tutorial with carb laying on intake side (i believe) and measuring bottom of float to bottom of bowl, should I be testing when needle valve seats to measure float height? Needing the get the bike running well, I have a trip coming up fairly soon. Thanks
So Two Questions
1. Is letting the float down and stopping where the needle valve starts to spew gas an accurate way to measure float height? (with bike standing straight upright of course)

2. Are there any other reasons a bike would run great with current jets etc. and after cleaning the carb not want to run above half throttle? such as intake leak(boots conditions are good).