Are the carbs on the '77 A the same as the '78 K? If so, it's a pilot FUEL screw, and all the little washer does is press evenly on the o-ring so it's not the spring right up against it. I'm positive it'd run without it, but it's not the right way to do it. That said, it's just a washer, not a shim (someone correct me if I'm wrong) so if you can find something that fits -- i.e. from other bikes, other years (looks the same as a '78K to me...), etc.