Bad reed symptoms?

The production backplate can be opened up a bit more if you desire which can offer a few more rpm's. If you press out the spraybar, you can open the venturi opening up. I was using 11/64" when running suction. One thing I like to do is to check the reed to insure it's sealing properly. This means obtaining a piece of tubing that fits over the venturi. Use a large syringe and place the tubing over the venturi. Withdraw the syringe plunger. You shouldn't be able to pull it out AT ALL. If it's even mildly leaking allowing you to withdraw it, it's not functioning correctly. Just be certain if it does withdraw, it's not your tubing leaking around the venturi.

I use a tool that I bleed my brakes with which is a Mighty Vac vacuum pump. I can pull a vacuum and I can watch the gauge to insure it's not leaking. You can try and flip the reed over and try again. Placing a drop of oil on it and insuring the oil gets under the reed can also assist. Just insure that the reed is not leaking down. You should be able to push the syringe down, just not pulling it out. What I will say is that I have had more success using the clear reeds which are rectangular. They seem to seal with regularity but the lifespan is shorter than the copper star. They tend to deform where it lays on the venturi opening. I flip them over when this happens which offers a bit more life. I had what I believe was a white Teflon reed which was offered by Davis Diesel. I know high claims were made for this style but I never found it to work well due to it's thickness. I had issues with it fitting properly under the reed clip. Always insure that the clip is seated and that the reed moves freely under the clip. Take a X-acto and carefully spin the reed under the clip after installed by pushing on one of the corners. I've seen the copper star where the very edges tend to roll up onto the walls of the sides which pinches them down when the clip is installed. If the edges of your reeds even show deformation where the clip is, I would discard it. I've successfully removed dents and slight folds by using two ground and hardened machinists blocks and clapping them together with the reed sandwiched.