Boysen reeds-Anyone running them??

[joetheis]

First ride in my new (well new to me) boar-1991 Grumman 18' with a 70 'Rude hanging off the back.
Starts good, runs good, but idle is a bit choppy and rpm WAY too high, (1000 or more), seems a bit rich too. (low speed adjust or richment stuck on)
I gotta go back up, (it's 220 miles away in Clayton N.Y.) and try to to adjust the carbs. a bit this weekend.
Just got the repair manual and parts manual off E-Bay, (don't spin a wrench til you have instructions and pics)!!
Was looking at the reeds in the parts book.
I've raced 2 smoke motorcycles for years off road and understand these style of motors well, know what does what and when.
S.S. reeds will last a long time, but throttle response is slow, fiber reeds will make it JUMP, but over time, they "lift", "chip" after a while.
I figure 23 years, these reeds are at their life's end (maybe).
Seeing how this motor is a "long distance" motor..........
Has anyone run a set of Boysen Reeds or ??? brand reeds with good luck?? How about these reeds lasting?
I'm not looking for "outta the hole "leaping lizards" throttle response, but "it's been 5 years and they still look new" response!
As a gear head and someone that can't leave, "well enough alone" I always want to improve whatever I'm tinkering with, but...................
Advice??
Joe

 

[Faztbullet]

Leave the 2 stage reeds alone as 1 backfire and they are toas and only last about 3-4 years, Go with a set of TDR or CCMS reeds..

 

[ronward]

Omc ran what they thought was adequate for years. I've yet to see them fail under normal circumstances...why 2nd guess them???

 

[emdsapmgr]

I've run the Boyesen 2 stage reeds for years in two different OMC V6's. Never had any issue, nor have any broken. Never changed them. But then I don't run them over 6000 either. I like the way they idle and are strong in midrange. I'd estimate they gave the engines about 200 rpm's more at top end. Worth my money.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Leave the 2 stage reeds alone as 1 backfire and they are toas and only last about 3-4 years, Go with a set of TDR or CCMS reeds..

I've got Chris Carson Marine (CCMS) reeds, they definitely helped idle. If you go that route you can call Chris and he'll give you a recommendation for which reed to go with based on what you want to do, he's very knowledgeable and very helpful. As far as increased throttle response or more top end, I haven't seen it - the only way you're gonna' get more top end is to flow more air and just changing reeds won't effect that.

edited to add: A while back someone posted test results at ScreamAndFly comparing various reeds. Not a single one increased power, but cutting reed cages to allow more flow did have some effect.

 

[joetheis]

tanks!
I'll give him a shout and let him set me up!!
When I get the boat home, (I'm not giving up on summer yet! Columbus day weekend is the last day at the camp grounds, so that weekend is boat draggin' time), I'll yank off the carbs and peer down inside and lookie at the reed.
I did notice this outboard idles rough, my first thoughts cuz it's idling over a grand and there is a good bit of smoke rolling @ the engine is that it's a tad rich, maybe the carbs need to be sync.
But the reeds could be curled a bit letting more fuel in, hence the P.O. cranked up the idle.
I'm going to go up this weekend and see if the low speed mixture screws are all the same, the throttle position, air flow into the engine, etc, is set up.
I not going to go nuts, it's running and time on the water is short.
Joe