Snapped

**mercrazy** · 07-25-2025, 05:29 PM

I over tightened 2 - 7 petal reed cages and they cracked near the end at the tip of reed. Could I tig these to repair?

**Onetime** · 07-25-2025, 06:44 PM

If you’re good at welding thin aluminum, yes. Then you’ll have to very carefully clean up the weld on the reed surface.

**WaterZebra** · 07-25-2025, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by mercrazy

I over tightened 2 - 7 petal reed cages and they cracked near the end at the tip of reed. Could I tig these to repair?

If the cages are "trapped" in the reed manifold by the carb gasket and faceplate and the reeds are intact, why bother with the crack repair? The gasket will block leakage in the cage provided the reeds are working OK. If the cracking got to the outside reed opening, the cage is toast.

**LakeFever** · 07-26-2025, 05:13 AM

Id replace it. Reed cages are the one part of a seven petal front that are available often and inexpensive. Call Mike at buckshot racing he has lots of parts or try Jay smith or James Perry? Did you work with him on the machine work? Failing all that there are new billet aftermarket available but I’m sure you’ll find a couple. Try a wanted ad here on S&F too

**David - WI** · 07-26-2025, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by WaterZebra

If the cages are "trapped" in the reed manifold by the carb gasket and faceplate and the reeds are intact, why bother with the crack repair? The gasket will block leakage in the cage provided the reeds are working OK. If the cracking got to the outside reed opening, the cage is toast.

Yes. If a piece breaks off and goes through the motor... $$$$$.

**25two.stroke** · 07-26-2025, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by mercrazy

I over tightened 2 - 7 petal reed cages and they cracked near the end at the tip of reed. Could I tig these to repair?

If you figure a way to repair cages that have this damage let me know, I have a bunch of them that are cracked. I've never cracked one myself, but I've taken apart plenty of motors that had cracked cages in em but I could never bring myself to throw them away.

**mercrazy** · 07-26-2025, 05:21 PM

I wonder if Jb weld would work?

**mercrazy** · 07-27-2025, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

Id replace it. Reed cages are the one part of a seven petal front that are available often and inexpensive. Call Mike at buckshot racing he has lots of parts or try Jay smith or James Perry? Did you work with him on the machine work? Failing all that there are new billet aftermarket available but I’m sure you’ll find a couple. Try a wanted ad here on S&F too

I saw 5 petals for $6 but most 7 petal I’ve seen are $100. Is there a lower price somewhere?

**LakeFever** · 07-27-2025, 08:22 AM

I haven’t been actively looking for cages but I see them come up for sale fairly often vs a front half which rarely comes up for sale. Also be sure to torque every fastener when assembling motors. Aluminum is not forgiving for even one hugga dugga too much. Gutentite has no place in engine building as me how I know lol

**WaterZebra** · 07-27-2025, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by mercrazy

I saw 5 petals for $6 but most 7 petal I’ve seen are $100. Is there a lower price somewhere?

7 petal horizontal reeds were a rarity nearly 20 years ago. $100 price for a cage sounds about right. I'm sure there is an aftermarket cage you can buy that is near that price. The 7 petal front end manifolds are even harder to find.

**Onetime** · 07-27-2025, 08:46 AM

The billet machined ones from Buckshot Racing are really a deal. $495 for a set of six.
If you contact them might just sell you one or two.
Personally I’d buy the set of six.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18632715117...Bk9SR9yfqsGJZg

You can still get the replacement five petal version of the seven petal from Mercury at $300 each.

**mercrazy** · 07-27-2025, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

I haven’t been actively looking for cages but I see them come up for sale fairly often vs a front half which rarely comes up for sale.

thats why I’m thinking about trying to make a 7 petal front half out of a 5 petal. I can’t find anything about doing it.

**LakeFever** · 07-27-2025, 09:39 AM

It’s metal. If you can cut grind weld it’s doable but it’s not something that is probably easy. Key problem is you need the reeds to seal with a gasket to the reed plate and the front half is a whole other animal. Whatever you do to open the cavity for the seven petal it must be done carefully because that’s the other half of the crankshaft mounting which also has to seal the crank rings too. Lots of places to go wrong and it will take a lot of time. Probably why no one has bothered