Why 97's?

I always carried a hammer with me when I was running 97 and 81 carbs. Sooner or later needle valves would stick and flood motor with gas. Happened even with new needles and seats ! My flatheads had 3 and 4 97's and the Caddy had 4 81's those were the days !

 

I thought I'd found all your hammertops in the last few years, but they still keep showing up!

 

I have always ***umed that the popularity of the 97 with racers was the ability to change main jets with the carb on the manifold. Don't see how you can do that with a 94. Since we all got our info on the hot set up from magazines, walking thru the pits etc. we ***umed they were superior, we really didn't know why but if Rounthwaite, Fran Hernandez, Chrismann etc. used them then we needed them.