I'm in the middle of fixing the accelerator pump (and doing some other carb work) on my 78k. Perhaps some of this will help.
My accelerator pump wasn't working at all. I had at least three problems:
1. The lower check valve was completely frozen up and wouldn't pass air or carb cleaner at all. I too have a brass plug instead of nylon. I never did get the plug out to clean the check valve as per the HondaChoppers tutorial. I did find that liberal carb cleaner, including soaking overnight, and compressed air got the lower check valve working.
And working means passing air or fuel only one way. If fuel can pass both ways, it won't pump.
There is another check valve in the #2 bowl (for a total of two) that must also work. It is beneath a similar square brass plug near the float bowl gasket surface. The second check ball on mine wasn't nearly as gummed up, but it was partially obstructed.
2. The pump diaphragm was rotten. It looked and felt ok initially, but after I assembled and tested the pump it started cracking. It was clearly shot though it looked like it was in fair condition at first. The spring in the pump was strong enough to half tear the rotten diaphragm, though just working it around with my fingers hadn't made it look bad. It squirted two or three times then gave up.
3. Like the other posters mentioned, mine needed a better hole in one of the mouse ears. One ear was punched so that it had an actual hole, but the other ear had only been pierced (like a needle poked through but no material removed). The new part has huge holes (in both ears) by comparison.
Of course, the passages from bowl #2 to the nozzles in each carb need to be clear as well.