reed valves

[mopar1970]

Should you be able to see a little bit of light through the reed valves or should they be totaly closed??
THANKS,
Chris

 

[i386]

Re: reed valves

I don't know specifically the answer to your question (someone here does for sure). I was just curius, is it "backfiring" out the carb?

btw, I don't know what the exact tolerance is but I do know this... Don't flip it over thinking that'll fix it. You stand a chance breaking a reed. A broken reed sucked into your crank case is a bad thing.

 

[mopar1970]

Re: reed valves

It was not backfiring at all. but have it apart for a rebuild and thought that the light through them was questionable and want this thing to be a trouble free rebuild but the reeds are quite expensive becouse I can only find them sold in the whole assembly. does anyne know where I can buy just the valve for a 60 hp 2 cyl?
Thanks for your input everyone
Chris

 

[i386]

Re: reed valves

Can't fault you for that. Post your year and model # and I'm sure you'll get some more information.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: reed valves

I don't know about your outboard but usually that's nothing to worry about. Specs are in the 5-10 thousandths of an inch normal lift at the end of the reed, and you can easily see light if it's just half a thousandths of an inch up.
The little bit of lift has no effect since it's blown shut by crankcase compression. Usually it's due ot a little microscopic particle of dirt between the reed leaf and the reed plate/block at the "hinge" end of the reed. You can disassemble and clean but it's not worth it if it's below spec.

 

[mopar1970]

Re: reed valves

ok thanks

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: reed valves

Looking for light leakage is quite a severe test. Some of my precision parallel bar's on a granite surface plate won't past that test. Some light leakage is normal, don't worry about it. That reed will snap closed under the slightest positive pressure.

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: reed valves

That's how I check to see if my zeroed callipers are really zeroed and not just out of adjustment, dirty or damaged.
Good to quickly check for warping with a straight-edge too!

 

[F_R]

Re: reed valves

Our Evinrude factory service rep was heavy into racing. On one of his visits to our shop, he told of his experiences with "improving" the reeds on his race engine. He took great pains to ensure that they lay perfectly flat. Well, he lost several miles per hour. End of story.