Boyesen to CCMS Reeds Comparison

**phillnjack** · 02-10-2018, 06:49 PM

Apart from everyone who says how good ccms reeds are there is another big factor PRICE. he cant be beaten on price.
this allows for a spare set to be kept just incase.
Boyesen dont have the reputation they used to have, and that was because they had a monopoly on the aftermarket reeds and sponsored
lots of the bike boys.

Boyesen would probably be 3rd on my list of reeds. chris carson reeds 1st

**davemvegas** · 02-10-2018, 07:17 PM

CCMS is the best way to go. great reed and even better service.

**MERCURY#1** · 02-12-2018, 09:20 AM

Thank you
have them on order!!

**Fishinmymission** · 02-15-2018, 07:09 PM

I wrote Mercury again explaining that I was not happy with the first answer and actually got back a very good response from someone who knew what they were talking about.
They explained that stress fatigue was highly variant due to different user cycles (engine load vs RPM). That the reeds bent in different ways sometimes twisting under certain load to RPM fluctuations that could greatly affect fatigue life. Because of high variations in stress do to different reed motions they didn't have a good analytical model for reed life.
He did however say that fiberglass reeds should be inspected every 100 hours and replaced if chipped, and steel reeds should be replaced every 300 hours regardless of condition.
Make sense as the composites are less tough and could fracture from being damaged but should basically have an infinite fatigue life if undamaged.

**rudderless** · 02-15-2018, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Fishinmymission

I wrote Mercury again explaining that I was not happy with the first answer and actually got back a very good response from someone who knew what they were talking about.
They explained that stress fatigue was highly variant due to different user cycles (engine load vs RPM). That the reeds bent in different ways sometimes twisting under certain load to RPM fluctuations that could greatly affect fatigue life. Because of high variations in stress do to different reed motions they didn't have a good analytical model for reed life.
He did however say that fiberglass reeds should be inspected every 100 hours and replaced if chipped, and steel reeds should be replaced every 300 hours regardless of condition.
Make sense as the composites are less tough and could fracture from being damaged but should basically have an infinite fatigue life if undamaged.

For what its worth...I put the cc reeds in my 9.9/15 that I did alot of internal work using ideas from here. It runs wot at 7400 with a 10p 4 blade. I use the motor 200 hours per season. The cc reeds lasted 1 season before the ends chipped. Last year I put in the Boyessens. I just checked them and they are pristine. The reed plate is flat on that motor and I feel the 2 stage reeds land on the plate softer than the cc reeds. Maybe the plate needs to be rubber coated..jmho..

I feel reed choice might be motor specific..So I feel the above response from Mercury is spot on.

**phillnjack** · 02-19-2018, 12:54 PM

rudderless...

Did you leave the stops off when using cc reeds ? .... if yes, there is your answer. ccms recommends to keep the stops and the shims I believe .
I agree 200 hours is not very long for reeds to be chipping at the edges, but at the rpm you are running did you buy race reeds or just normal or sport reeds ?

**rudderless** · 02-19-2018, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by phillnjack

rudderless...

Did you leave the stops off when using cc reeds ? .... if yes, there is your answer. ccms recommends to keep the stops and the shims I believe .
I agree 200 hours is not very long for reeds to be chipping at the edges, but at the rpm you are running did you buy race reeds or just normal or sport reeds ?

There is a story about that..I got the '76 motor in a box 4 years ago. The so called reed stop screws got loose and the stop and reeds were smacking into the crank throw. A piece of reed broke off very early in its life. Was in a box for years.

So...yes it was as supposed to be. Maybe some behind the liner work and such that I got from here. And they were the race reeds..all I could find were the race reeds on ebay at the time..didn't know any better at the time. They wore at the very end. I don't run it anywhere near wot though. The current ones are looking good so far. I think the center, smaller reed has some cushion landing on top of the larger reed. And maybe the large reed doesn't lift as far off the plate? Maybe reed choice might partly be a function of motor design...

**phillnjack** · 02-21-2018, 08:44 AM

were they direct from chris carson or some other seller ?

did you also put back the shims on the reed stops ? so they fit as in" reed-shim-stop".. and I take it your not using stops with the boyesen reeds ?
and just saying , but race reeds would not hold up as long as recreational or sport reeds, they each do a different job and will last differently.

**Jay Smith** · 02-21-2018, 09:02 AM

Try the TDR (Tony Doukas ) reeds , I can use anyone's reeds on my many rebuilds haven't had a failure or complaint yet in 20 years of building Mercurys !!!
From 11,000 rpm all out race motors to 5,500 recreational they can't be beat !!

Jay @ JSRE
832 597 3603

**rudderless** · 02-21-2018, 04:16 PM

Yes..the shim and guide were installed as per conversation with a cc rep on the phone..didn't get a name.

I did google TDR reeds as per this forum and it seemed they were not in business anymore so I went with cc reeds. Like I said they were on ebay and I bought them without doing my homework first..Sport would last longer

**FMP** · 02-21-2018, 04:46 PM

I spoke with TDR two weeks ago. They're answering

**Jay Smith** · 02-25-2018, 07:39 PM

I'll assure you TDR is still alive and well , Tony has been building 2 cycle reed valves for over 35 years , NO ONE knows more about 2 cycle reed application than Tony ..

Jay

**Markus** · 03-01-2018, 08:59 AM

Like Jay says, TDR reeds are great.

**Capt.Insane-o** · 03-01-2018, 01:27 PM

I've been using the tdr reeds on coated sport jet cages to great success and longevity. I've used Chris's reeds in a lot of customer motors and a couple of my own with no complaints. Boysen, never again.

**Varmint** · 03-02-2018, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Captain75

Gap of .020” - thats a huge reed gap!?
I go for zero gap to prevent back blow and loss of power, but I guess that goes for everyone on this board! Btw, anyone know where to get new reed screws of good quality(Omc Looper)? Whats the name of the screw size?
I live in the metric world and I’m still not familiar with all inch related sizes.

Boyeson and i believe ccm come with new screws for mercury. I'd call chris he prolly has 'em