reed valves

[circlehook]

question when a reed valve goes bad will there be a tell tale sign, like how will a 6 cylinder act if one or two were bad. my engine has no mid range RPM with out stalling idle to 1,500 RPM & 2,500 to 4,800 RPM is ok, but in between she stalls, 225 mercury offshore, 1996 2 stroke, thanks bob

 

[Laddies]

Re: reed valves

A engine with a bad reed will run fine above 1500 RPM but will drop 2 cyls. that share a carb at idle, in most case you can see the carb have blow back coming out of the carb at idle and just above as you slowly increase RPM the blow back will disappear and the engine will pick up the 2 cyls. It is a misconception that the reeds function off idle very far, the vacuum holds then wide open in till the engine returns to idle.