Yes.Take the plastic from the needle valves if you cant adjust them enough or at all.........Generally speaking you will have to richen the mixture slightly since the air cleaner has been removed. Better air flow to the carb.
The choke plate is a different matter. They do like to be wwwwwet to start..........kind of hard to get a finger to the carb when cranking to.
Mine is ful choke till she fires then 1/2 choke to warm up slightly. Maybe you could fab something out of a small piece of sheet metal.

Riley