Guys,
I've been quizzing the internet for info about making reed petals from laminate stock or by modifying existing manufactured reeds. I haven't found much information that I deem trustworthy. Does anyone here have any experience with this, or advice on this topic? Or, skipping to the end, does anyone offer replacement reed petals for my MC-90 Go Power reed cage?
Thanks!
Kurt
Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
Moderator: Rob Voska
- Kurt Bogerman
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:39 pm
- Vintage Karting items owned: 1964(?) Rupp Grand Prix, MC 90, Safari Gearbox.
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- Location: Harrisburg, PA
- Kurt Bogerman
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:39 pm
- Vintage Karting items owned: 1964(?) Rupp Grand Prix, MC 90, Safari Gearbox.
- User Agreement: Yes
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
So... Minutes after finally posting the question, I discovered that Black Dog shows them. That certainly solves a problem. I would still be interested in the prospect of making my own, if there's any advice out there.
Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
Kurt,
Nothing wrong with making your own reeds. Source the material and have at it. Would advise that you stay away from steel as a material choice in case of a reed failure.
R.E.A.R.
Nothing wrong with making your own reeds. Source the material and have at it. Would advise that you stay away from steel as a material choice in case of a reed failure.
R.E.A.R.
Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
I have a cad file if you want to laser or water jet cut them. I used fiberglass material from McMaster carr.
-
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Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
Kurt,
I've never made my own reeds, but here's a few thoughts that might be useful.
1) Boyesen makes all kinds of reeds for the serious motocross crowd, and pretty much anything else with a 2-stroke mill, out of lots of different materials. I had them make some graphite-epoxy Mac reeds for me a few years ago. They have some kart profiles in their database, and will work with you to make whatever you want. Good people. http://boyesen.com/product-segments/karting-home.html
2) The bread-and-butter material for decades seems to be G10 Epoxy Glass. I forget the thickness folks use for kart reeds, but you could measure an old reed and be close. Be careful, though: bending stiffness generally varies with the 3rd power of thickness, so small differences matter. (Twice as thick = 8X as stiff.)
3) Go too stiff and I assume it'll be like a sock stuffed in manifold, but too flimsy and they'll likely twist & flutter excessively, leading to premature start chipping & fraying. Boyesen can take you as deep as you want to go on that topic.
4) A few years ago I asked one of the fastest & smartest karters I know where he buys his reeds. He shrugged and said he has a big sheet of G10 and makes his own with a pair of scissors.
5) G10, G11, FR4, etc. all refer NEMA grades going back decades. McMaster-Carr has a nice summary of the various types of materials and what they're good for. I suppose you can use that knowledge to impress chicks...
Doug
I've never made my own reeds, but here's a few thoughts that might be useful.
1) Boyesen makes all kinds of reeds for the serious motocross crowd, and pretty much anything else with a 2-stroke mill, out of lots of different materials. I had them make some graphite-epoxy Mac reeds for me a few years ago. They have some kart profiles in their database, and will work with you to make whatever you want. Good people. http://boyesen.com/product-segments/karting-home.html
2) The bread-and-butter material for decades seems to be G10 Epoxy Glass. I forget the thickness folks use for kart reeds, but you could measure an old reed and be close. Be careful, though: bending stiffness generally varies with the 3rd power of thickness, so small differences matter. (Twice as thick = 8X as stiff.)
3) Go too stiff and I assume it'll be like a sock stuffed in manifold, but too flimsy and they'll likely twist & flutter excessively, leading to premature start chipping & fraying. Boyesen can take you as deep as you want to go on that topic.
4) A few years ago I asked one of the fastest & smartest karters I know where he buys his reeds. He shrugged and said he has a big sheet of G10 and makes his own with a pair of scissors.
5) G10, G11, FR4, etc. all refer NEMA grades going back decades. McMaster-Carr has a nice summary of the various types of materials and what they're good for. I suppose you can use that knowledge to impress chicks...
Doug
- Kurt Bogerman
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:39 pm
- Vintage Karting items owned: 1964(?) Rupp Grand Prix, MC 90, Safari Gearbox.
- User Agreement: Yes
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
Those are some great suggestions, Doug. Thank you! Black Dog Vintage Racing was kind enough to supply some .016 G10 reeds, so those will get me going. Perhaps I can experiment more, once the machine is up and running!
- Kurt Bogerman
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Wed Sep 27, 2017 4:39 pm
- Vintage Karting items owned: 1964(?) Rupp Grand Prix, MC 90, Safari Gearbox.
- User Agreement: Yes
- Location: Harrisburg, PA
Re: Anyone DIY reed petals for Go Power?
"I suppose you can use that knowledge to impress chicks..."
I found that very funny, by the way. I know one young lady who builds extra-legally fast mopeds, and she would love that info for sure!
I found that very funny, by the way. I know one young lady who builds extra-legally fast mopeds, and she would love that info for sure!