On the hesitation:
1. With the engine off look down the primary side and move the throttle lever. You should see fuel dumped in the bores by the accelerator pump. If not, find out what is plugging the system.
2. Insure that there is NO play between the accel. pump arm and the lever on the carb. linkage. There is a screw with a spring there to adjust if needed.
3. Check the plastic cam on the carb linkage that moves the linkage for the accel. pump. It should give movemement right away. If it does not there is a second set of holes in the cam to move to another position or you could buy a set of cams to cover about any situation real cheap. Stick with the stock cam profile or real close to it to avoid causing other isssues.
4. If you still have a hesitation then switch to larger squirters. Those are the tubes that dump the fuel into the throttle bores.

Your timing sounds about right with the advice given by the 2 gentlemen above.