[Bahamut]

I own a VLS and use it daily. The needle adjusting sleve just has to be turned in past the threads on the "rocker assembly". The only thing that the needle adjusting sleeve adjusts is the amount of tension on the trigger. The further you screw it in the more spring pressure you have on the trigger. The only way to adjust the actual needle is to push it in lightly until you feel it get snug, give it a lil spin to make sure it seats completly, and tighten the locknut. I undertstand where you are comming from though with the excessive paint. You might want to put a #1 needle in it if you aren't already using it (it usually ships with a #3 installed). As for when you seat your needle, when you spin it, it shoud spin smoothly in the tip. If it feels loose then tight then loose then tight when you spin it, your tip is probably mushroomed out from the needle being jammed in too tight. If that's the case the needle won't seat properly any way you do it and you will usually always have a bit of paint comming out when the trigger pressed. The thing about Paasche brushes that makes me love em is a new tip costs 5 bucks insted of 35.