Reply To: reed valves for old Elgin

[Leonard]

Thanks for all the replies.  Turns out this is a 1 1/4 hp model 571.58301.  I found a picture of another engines reed valves. I found this in LeeRoys Ramblings along with a description of the plate which is “The reed valve plate are directly behind the carb and held on by the carb/manifold bolts.  The fuel flow is through four .177″ round holes that are counter bored /tapered from .300″  in the front of the plate.”  Amazing what you can find if you do enough searching.  The reed valves (using a Lee Mic) measure .039 so I am going to try a .004 feeler gauge cut to size.  The old valves are too rusty to work so have to be replaced.  I tried .01 material but cut to size (approx 5/16 x 1 1/16) they were too stiff.  I am going to cut the .004 feeler gauge with a Dremel using a cutting oil to keep it as cool as possible.  On  the first set I cut the screw hole by using a fine pointed grindstone to start and then finishing with a sharp drill.  Worked fine on the thicker material, but we will let you know if it works on the thinner feeler gauge.