I have a 2000 250exc....I'm running the needle in #3,45,pilot and 178 main(may be able to go leaner when it warms up around here).I found this needle by accident,but tried all the noz*, ce* and dd* needles.The ddk was my favorite. I have a friend with a 2001 300 that was having the same problem as you...and tried every needle in the book. I let him try the n3ej needle and had to beat him with a stick to get it back from him( I can't remember what his other settings were)