[victoriaw]

Reed valves help push air through a two-stroke engine that mixes with the fuel to create the combustion needed to create power. If the reed valves are cracked, they may not open all the way, which will reduce the amount of oxygen that gets into the engine to mix with the fuel. The result is a rough idling engine that sounds like it is on the verge of dying. Depending on the severity of the crack, the rough idle may disappear as the engine warms and the metal expands from the heat of running. more

[cosurgi]

Reed valves are used in many two-cycle engines, including motorcycles, snowmobiles, and lawnmowers. Reed valves going bad can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms can often be mistaken for problems. Most technicians will suspect a problem with the reed valves only after they have exhausted all other potential problems. Service technicians who work on two-cycle engines are familiar with the symptoms that bad reed valves can present with and are likely to diagnose the problem more quickly. more

[babisuu]

Engines with reed valves that are failing can present symptoms of hesitation during acceleration. The engine may fail to respond to the increased fuel flow and then jump forward as the gas is finally ignited. The hesitation in the engine due to failing reed valves can be very frustrating as the power is simply not available when needed. If too much fuel is poured into the engine and reed valves are failing, the result may be engine backfiring. here

[dishwara]

Failing reed valves can result in reduced power at what should be cruising speeds. This can be a frustrating symptom as several other factors also can be present with reduced power as the symptom. However, failing reed valves reduces the fuel and air mixture. This results in fuel being dumped into the carburetor with no flame to ignite it. The result is reduced power. If the engine is brought up to the higher revolution per minute, or RPM, levels the power may return, but will disappear again once the RPMs drop.

[michb]

Pull the reed valve manifold apart by hand once it is loose from the engine. Take out the old reed petals and replace them with a new set. Re-bolt the reassembled manifold to the engine again with the socket wrench. Screw on the intake hose clamp after reinstalling the hose.

[YeahR]

Reed valves on a two-stroke engine tend to be somewhat temperamental, as the inner workings of the assembly are very sensitive. If the parts are damaged or worn down, they can immediately impact the air/fuel mixture from the carburetor, which then damages engine performance. However, reed valves are often worth the time it takes to troubleshoot, since the design cuts off backflow and makes carburetion more efficient in a two-stroke engine. Solving many of the problems with reed valves includes eliminating other issues that could cause failures. [links]

[sherrylewis3usa]

Hold the end of the fuel line in your hand with a shop rag and slowly turn the fuel supply on to see if fuel is flowing properly. Turn it off when fuel begins to spill out onto the rag.

[isabelbonaguidi]

Use a screwdriver to disconnect the banjo clamp holding the carburetor to the intake hose connecting to the reed valve manifold on the engine. Pull the carburetor free and disconnect the fuel line connected to the side of it. Use a crescent wrench to disconnect the fuel line.

[devrandom]

Place the carburetor and fuel line aside. Unscrew the banjo bolt holding the intake hose to the reed valve manifold. Put the hose and clamps aside. Look inside the reed valve manifold to spot any signs of damage to the internal reed petals. Use a socket wrench and sockets to remove the manifold from the engine intake.

[FreddyFender]

Turn on the motorcycle or scooter engine and get it running, if possible. Wait about five minutes for the engine to warm up. Pull on the throttle to see if the carburetor responds correctly and quickly. Turn the engine off. Turn the fuel supply off. here

[nadav001]

3. Ignition- electrical system provides spark to ignite fuel /air mix, creating power stroke.

[newsham]

Although comparatively new to the market place in reed valve production, we have 35 years experience in modifying outboards and cutting reed valves. No longer will you need to experience a reed-related inefficient engine or rough idle. Try our reeds; you will be buying a precision product made with American materials, tooling and equipment. We are outboard performance specialists and enthusiasts, love this work, and invite you to call us (we service the SE USA) or come by and visit; we hope to be of service when it comes to any of your outboard needs. [links]

[jemenake]

Chris Carson and Family

[acrylicist]

Who installed the stator, carb kits, water pump, etc.? What was it doing before that, and did it ever run ok after that work was done? more

[Dereckson]

Doubt it's a reed problem. Usually on the towers a sign of bad reeds is they won't idle down low enough(hard to idle below 1000 rpm) without dying, How's your idle rpm in neutral and in gear? And yes to change the reeds, you have to split the crankcase.

[xterm11]

I have no reason to believe that this guy is dishonest. He comes highly recommended by numerous friends. The one who WAS dishonest was the guy who sold me this boat. here

[Hal]

IF by chance your engine needs reeds they're not all that difficult to replace. here

[sstsf]

Throughout its life span, a reed petal flexes millions of times, and its individual fibers start to lose their springiness. The reed’s modulus of elasticity decreases so that in equal engine conditions the reed will deform and open farther. This is called “hang-open” and affects performance. It can even make the bike run a little richer off the bottom. [links]

[weddingshoesmaker2003]

To achieve a compromise between lighter carbon and less expensive yet more durable glass fiber, a hybrid was developed. Manufacturers have experimented with other materials as well, including Kevlar and titanium. here

[Mira]

(6) In addition to thickness, a reed’s performance can be further tuned by its construction. Layup is the orientation of the plies of material of the reed. Many petals have three plies, and by laying the plies perpendicular to the area of flex, stiffness is increased. The shape of the reed’s tip can also be modified for performance. A wing-shaped tip can help air flow past it. A reed’s length affects its stiffness and the distance it must travel. (7) The specific dimensions and design of every part of the reed valve change performance. The size and shape of the overall duct of the cage, as well as the angles it may have to avoid interference with the shock, are important for airflow. Reed designers try to keep air velocity constant. The volume of the reed cage should be approximately equal to the volume in the carb and crankcase to prevent any bottlenecking. A nylon “stuffer” may be inserted into the cage to help maintain proper flow. [links]

[jasonlandmark66]

(1) Two-stroke engines suck their fuel/air mixture through the intake tract into the engine when the piston rises. This action creates a vacuum in the crankcase. On its descent, the piston forces the mixture up through the transfer ports into the combustion chamber. With earlier, piston-port engines (sans reed valves), a part of that mixture would be backwashed into the intake instead of going entirely up the transfer ports. Reed valves act as one-way check valves that prevent this backwash.

[6174Kauri]

(3) The reed petals pulse as the engine cycles, at roughly a one-to-one ratio. When the engine turns 8000 engine revolutions per minute, a reed opens 7980 times per minute. Needless to say, when the engine is running close to peak rpm, the reeds are really buzzing. With each cycle, the reed petals slap against the reed block, shortening their life span. (4) The first reeds, like GEM reeds, were made of stainless steel. These reeds were very durable and could be run a long time, but when they did break, the metal was sucked into the engine — destroying it.