Re: New reeds
Mark,<br />Fiberglass two stage reeds will give you better idle, better hole shot and acceleration, slightly more top end RPM.<br /> If one of your cylinders has been run dry with no oil, it could be the end for that piston and cylinder not to mention the rod and crank bearings. Squirt some TCW-III oil in the spark plug hole and replace the plug and try cranking and feel for reverse puff on the dry cylinder carb. If you have the reverse puff, the reed on that cylinder is gone. Also check the fuel line and the carb to see if its getting fuel. If not, then I would dissassemble the carb and look for clogs. When was the last time you replaced the fuel pump diaphrams? Some models of Mercs have inline fuel filters and fuel screens on the motor, check them too. There is also a batch of older Mercury fuel lines with squeeze bulb that had an issue with the check valves in them too. A bore scope inspection is due if that cylinder has been run dry for any period of time. Personally I would not run the engine unless I tore it down for inspection and possible replacement of piston, rings, wrist pin bearings, crank bearings. Hopefully the crank is NOT damaged. The cylinder may need to be bored or honed to another size.
