thanks for the help guys. i adjusted to rod about 7 1/16 back (shorter) and it shifts great. it is now set up with an 1/8 of play at full throttle like you said. i think i know why i was having the problem, the previous owner just had a threaded rod from the carb lever and when i put the carbs back on i had the correct bracket for the carb and put it on which moved it back a bit to the right spot but the threaded rod they had it hooked up to was a little more further forward.