Reeds dying out while riding??

[Ruckenstein]

Can anyone describe the symptoms of reeds as they die out while riding. Are there any noises or anything querky that happens while your riding and reeds go out. (Not breaking just losing ability to seal)

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

The reeds play their biggest role on start-up, idling, and low to mid-range RPM performance. They control the reverse pressure wave from the descending piston that would otherwise go back out the carb. After mid-range, the momentum of the intake gas column flow prevents that reverse back-flow, and the reeds don't do much if anything at higher engine RPM. If you could suddenly remove the reeds altogether at top speed, I believe the engine would keep right on going, maybe a bit rich and smoky. This is from personal experience riding Flash 2 with a cracked carbon reed. Almost impossible to start, but once underway - nursing the throttle - it ran almost normally.

[patthesoundguy]

Greetings:

The reeds play their biggest role on start-up, idling, and low to mid-range RPM performance. They control the reverse pressure wave from the descending piston that would otherwise go back out the carb. After mid-range, the momentum of the intake gas column flow prevents that reverse back-flow, and the reeds don't do much if anything at higher engine RPM. If you could suddenly remove the reeds altogether at top speed, I believe the engine would keep right on going, maybe a bit rich and smoky. This is from personal experience riding Flash 2 with a cracked carbon reed. Almost impossible to start, but once underway - nursing the throttle - it ran almost normally.

I had mushed reeds at one point as well and I agree once you get it to run and play the throttle till the top end and it runs like normal.