Keep factory steel leafs or replace with Sport Reed leafs?

batman99

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 13, 2012
Messages
393
Update on 1996 Force 120 HP - getting engine to run smooth:

Today, I removed its spark plugs, sprayed Sea Foam - Deep Creep into all cylinders, with ignition key off, pull roped a few times (to ensure all cylinder walls were well coated), and let sit for 2 hours. Put plug into cylinder #1 and cylinder #2 compression is now 150ish (same as cylinder 1). Let sit for a few hours (with all plugs out) and re-checked compression. All cylinders remainined in 150ish range. Me now thinks this engine did have a stuck ring in cylinder #2 (that created previous 120 PSI), and Sea Foam - Deep Creep product ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRhTGZhbqY ) freed it up. In the next few days, I will check compression again. If all holds in 150ish range, I'll leave its factory head "as is". But if compression in cylinder #2 drops down to 120 (like before), I'll remove the head for visual inspection.

After compression back up to 150ish across all cylnders and feeling very lucky today, I removed both carbs and did inspection of both reed blocks. To my surprise, there's NO broken steel leafs. In daylight, their steel leafs look perfect. Yet, I know the leafs are leaking - because of the spitting back out both its carbs. Feeling tired, I waited for night time to settle in. In blacked out garage room, I held a flash light behind each reed cage. To my surprise, I see light. Too much light. And as I finger pressed each steel leaf set, some of them are "clicking". Luckily, I was able to search this site and discovered that clicking reed leafs are bad. Tomorrow, I plan to remove the steel leafs, turn each reed leaf over and using thread-lock glue on their little screws, tighten them down. Since I don't want to spend anymore dollars on this motor, I'll simply flip the factory steel leafs over and re-install. Then, reinstall the reed cages and carbs using new gaskets at 6.5 lbs of torque. After re-install (and hoping cylinder #2 continues to hold its 150ish PSI range), I then plan to de-carb its engine using Sea Foam - Motor Treatment product ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjXViwb97qc ). Then, winterize - for well needed rest. And, hoping some of the Sea Foam chemical residue on its cylinder walls and inner engine will help free up even more stuck items / stuck carb residue - while its sleeping during winter months.

With all above in mind, am I on the right track? Or, should I replace factory steel leafs with Boyesen reeds # B244 instead?

thanks.
 

Frank Acampora

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 19, 2007
Messages
12,004
Re: Keep factory steel leafs or replace with Sport Reed leafs?

I have worked on engines with Boyeson reeds and frankly (no pun intended), I was not impressed.

NOW: Factory specs. allow reed petals to stand open at rest .010 inch. You will be able to see light through them.

ALL reed valve two cycle engines will spit back some through the carb: First, the airflow is not steady, it is pulsing. Second, the reed petals can not respond as fast as the piston is moving--that is, they do not close instantaneously and there is always some crankcase pressure that will blow past before they seal. THAT is why the three cylinder engines have an airbox with a recycling tube into the bottom of the manifold and why the four cylinder models have carb covers.

So, if it truly makes you feel better, by all means buy the aftermarket reeds. However, while they may be a little more responsive, don't expect performance miracles.
 

RRitt

Captain
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
3,319
Re: Keep factory steel leafs or replace with Sport Reed leafs?

I think composite reeds from any manufacturer while have cracking issues on a force outboard and should be watched. If the reed causes a cylinder to run lean then it can lead to blown powerheads. I think 1996 was one of the years covered by a service bulletin to that effect.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,071
Re: Keep factory steel leafs or replace with Sport Reed leafs?

Not sure I'd leave the Seafoam in it till spring??
It's a soak designed to eat carbon and free up sticky rings.
Might not hurt anything but???
The factory stuff(reeds) have proven to be what works.
 
Top