When reeds go bad?

[daveythewavey19]

What are the symptoms a bike experiences when the reeds are damaged?

I believe my kx80 has reed problems because I removed the cage and found one reed broken off. I tried to devise a makeshift replacement from a different size reed by cutting it down. However, my bike feels like its not making enough power now. It revs high but moves slow. I just finished replacing the piston rings and I'm wondering whats going on. The engine sounds fine it just doesn't seems to be pulling hard enough. Also i didn't mess with the carburetor but the bike doesn't idle well anymore.

All of this seems to suggest a reed problem...

What do you think?

(p.s. there's nothing wrong with the transmission so don't blame that)

[KX02]

Putting in a new set of reeds would be a good start.

[jason33]

yea i would say a new set of reeds -50.00- i use pro series carbon fiber ones there the better kind,after that set the idle screw

[AKColby]

Get some reeds, if you continue to rig this thing it will become more of a pile of crap then it already is...and I know it is.

[Henry]

Originally Posted by AKColby

Get some reeds, if you continue to rig this thing it will become more of a pile of crap then it already is...and I know it is.

ouch...

[AKColby]

Originally Posted by daveythewavey19

(p.s. there's nothing wrong with the transmission so don't blame that)

How did the transmission get involved in the reed problem BTW?
I'm sorry if I'm sounds like a jerk but, any questions you may have feel free to ask...lots of nice people here

[Silver_Fox]

Originally Posted by AKColby

How did the transmission get involved in the reed problem BTW?

.

He said "It revs high but moves slow".
That sounds like a clutch slipping.......... either way a new set of reeds is a must.

[AKColby]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox

.

He said "It revs high but moves slow".
That sounds like a clutch slipping.......... either way a new set of reeds is a must.

Yep, I'm an idiot, I scanned through, now I feel like an idiot, silver_fox is right about the clutch slipping. I just got mad after I read the "makeshift reeds" part.

[four26stroker]

Ever wonder where that missing reed went? I might check the compression while the bikes down for fixin. Clutch replacement is pretty straight forward. Goodluck AKC

[jason33]

wow -- i swear i didn't see the line where he said he put in new rings-
im not mad about any questions-
but revin w/o going with power i thought mabe a air leak i have dealt with all kinds of probs,sometimes it a simple dumb fix lol
check the fiiber plates in the clutch-
sorry i mis read the post

[monkeyonahill]

Originally Posted by four26stroker

Ever wonder where that missing reed went?

That's where i might start.. get that broken reed out of there! might not cause trouble right now but a little ways down the road it might cause some damage. I dont think your engine likes having a chunk of plastic or carbon-fiber floating around in it
-Andrew

[daveythewavey19]

I replaced the reeds so no worries now.

[daveythewavey19]

PS- Don't rip on my bike. It's old yes, but I don't race and I don't have the money to blow on it that you might have. It serves my trail riding needs, so im happy. SO STOP RAINING ON MY PARADE!

[monkeyonahill]

who's bashin on your bike? i like 80's they're little screamers, a few of my friends have them and they're a blast! but yeah, i wouldnt have the case to have a shop tear into my cases either, i would try it on my own but the transmission and all the gears intimidate me a lot.. so that's the only reason why i dont. good to hear you got new reeds! go rip it up for me! my bikes still in the shop till next week..

[Henry]

Originally Posted by monkeyonahill

my bikes still in the shop till next week..

what are you getting done to it?

[monkeyonahill]

new seals + bushings in my forks and new tire tube/1 rear spoke (popped 2 tires in 1 day at the dunes... the dunes are cursed!). max cost they said is about $240 for parts + labor, and when the parts get in mid-next week he can finish it the day they come.

[Henry]

Originally Posted by monkeyonahill

new seals + bushings in my forks and new tire tube/1 rear spoke (popped 2 tires in 1 day at the dunes... the dunes are cursed!). max cost they said is about $240 for parts + labor, and when the parts get in mid-next week he can finish it the day they come.

becarfeul about the tube and tire, i got a new tube in from my dealer and the tires ,ust have been at like 30 PSI!!! and i was stupid enough to ride with em like that...can you say slippery!

sorry everyone about the:

[monkeyonahill]

LOL! yeah, my friend at the shop is doing it, and he knows i rides the dunes and tracks, so im guessing he's ganna leave it a bit low for me cuz the sand, so probably around 8-12 psi.

haha yeah, sorry about hijacking the thread everyone!

[daveythewavey19]

Somebody up there said something, I don't care though, I'm just kidding around. I love my little bike! It goes fast enough for me.

[Dekemonger]

DUDE - replacing the reeds is not good enough. You keep ignoring the wise others that mention the missing reed part.

If you REALLY love your little bike, you will find the missing reed part before it causes catastrophic damage to your motor. It may have already damaged your cylinder, piston, and or rings. That may be your power problem. Get a compression tester and test your compression. You should have tested it when you did the rings so you would have a benchmark for when rings needed future replacement. Hopefully you did.

By the way, if you do not want to be ripped on, do not do hack jobs on your bike.