Good question, and one that I have not been able to find an official answer to. Except the Gale service manual says the reed tension was adjusted at the factory (which I doubt).
Anyhoo, what we have there is a upper "reed" which I would prefer to think of as a "spring", on top of the actual or lower reed. In between the upper and lower reed is a spacer, which modifies the amount of pressure the upper (spring) exerts against the lower reed. Simple, but then comes the confusion. Most parts lists show one spacer between the reeds, but some show two spacers on which are virtually the same carb on the same motor. So, I dunno how they decided on that except if it actually was adjusted at the factory. I have seen them both ways on actual carburetors.
As for my own thoughts, I think the upper one should press against the lower one with the slightest of touch. Your opinion may vary.
