"Turn on the mags and start. That’s all. Won’t start no matter what. Only way it starts is if I turn the fuel valve off and then once it starts I put the fuel valve back on."
I doubt that my engine would cold start ,with your technique.
Mine is:
# Fuel On
# Boost pump On, until fuel pressure stabilised (normally 5 psi/34 kpa)
# Boost pump off
# Choke on full
# Ignition 1&2 On
# Starter engaged
# Engine starts within three revolutions
# Immediate 1/2 choke
# RPM stabilises 2500 rpm
# Choke completely off
# Adjust throttle to maintain between 2300 & 2500 rpm, for warm up
This may not solve your problem, which sounds to be a carburettor assembly error.