Got this figured out. The low end needle was set at fully closed!!!!! [:@] Aren't these supposed to be pre set at factory?
I actually took it to the hobby shop and the guy there took off the adjustment point ring and used a piece of silicon tube and blew into to the carb. He made an adjustment to the low end and we started it up. Half turn towards lean on the high needle
and the engine made good transition from low to high and idled well. The guy told me the "blowing" method works about 95% of the time provided you know what your hearing (air going thru the carb) and how much needle movement is needed.

Dave...