I know Chris Carson and have been to his shop many times over the years but did not know he had designed reed valves. I have a 2.4 that runs just fine, however it's that idle (800-900rpm) that gives me trouble, even shutting down when approaching the dock on a windy busy day. It's a bear to deal with.

Can't judge a book by the cover Builder. LOL. Anyone that has ever been there to pick up their reeds was probably thinking the same thing. Unsuspecting little place. Normally has a go fast or two and a couple relics sitting out front of his place.

Sorry in advance for the derail..
Reel, when I was checking into my idle issue with the 2.4L I was chasing carburetion, ignition and then checked the reeds to make sure that wasn't it. I did find a coil that was intermittently failing at idle. Found it at the lake, backed into the water with the timing light. Ran very good after replacement. When the motor came off the boat to install big bertha it was running like a champ, save for a leaky trim pump.
Whatever it is doing now may have no bearing on the reeds. But then again it might. To run good one outing and poorly the next is crazy.
Restart problems?? Never. Might be idled too low. Try the warm up lever and see if it starts easier.
Spare, it sounds like I have already jinxed it. Yes it has the plastic coated reed blocks. I was running what I had at the time. I wonder what ethanol does to plastic reed blocks?? S :cen: T.

Taking Skools, Ferms and Spares advice, I put Chris Carson reeds http://www.chriscarsonmarine.com in my Johnson 225 last year and the cold start difference was simply amazing.. one crank and shes purring. :love: If I ever have to do any carb work on my 200 Merc you can bet that a new set of Carson Reeds will be one of the first parts I order.

never heard of any one sanding the rubber coated reed blocks, done it a bunch of times on the aluminum ones, that's why I was asking

Wet sanded them just like the non-coated. It looked absolutely perfect. Right or wrong. Warranty work??

I couldn't agree more w/your 1st statement above...that's why I'm so stumped over this...cuz Pete had this baby NAILED...he did check the coils w/your light, so I don't think that's it...per your second statement above, he agreed and told me an idle up a bit might be called for...I'm thinking it's no more than that, cuz using the warm-up lever starts it every time...

And you two can shelve all the talk about JINXIN' this motor...I double-dipped it in some Jinx-Off...great stuff that Jinx-Off...:clap:

You've already used that Merc more in the past few months than I ever have. LOL Jinx-off!

Does that mean you sanded the flywheel?

DEFACE that work of art??...NEVER!!...Woe be to any who try...:bat:

I gotta put up a pic of that flywheel so all here can appreciate that statement...Pete sure got a kick outta that when we pulled the cover!!...LOL!!...