I managed to demolish a set of V-Force reeds on my 90 Zilla today. It was running fine and I shut it off to take a break. I could never get it started and it made a loud pop after about fifty kicks. It usually starts on the first or second kick. I'm guessing I fouled the plug (I run it a little rich) and it either backfired or somehow got too much fuel into the engine and it caused a buildup of more pressure than the reeds could hold and they blew backwards towards the carb. The flaps that did not blow in are all cracked. I am more familiar with four stroke engines than two stroke so I am making my best guess here. Am I on the right track or could something else have caused this to happen?

Its not up and running, but the compression still seems very good (My right foot is very SORE ) and I hope to get new reeds for it this week. Hopefully that is all I broke this weekend. Thanks

If the reeds were worn enough that they blew in from a backfire, they were probobly robbing power from your engine for a long time. I've never heard of that happening but I suppose it could if the reeds were worn enough.

Take the reeds out and see for sure

^^ what he said

When you start running Aftermarket reeds you get into all kinds of new problems. I have never heard of a backfire killing reeds, but hey anything is possible. I would just make sure you change the plug before you kick the heck out of it . The new vforce and boysens are not as durable as the stockers, but you get better performance.

Funny thing is those reeds weren't very old. The previous owner installed them before I bought the quad a little over a year ago. I guess I will try to find replcements or get a stock reed cage and go back to stock. I thought I had blown the motor at first but am glad it was only this. thanks

first trip out on blaster son broke one??? put in new and away he went. went carbon fiber

I agree you will start running n2 problems as soon as you start to get away from stock parts, but there is no way you can say stock reeds are stronger than carbon fiber v force reeds.

They are. Carbon fiber starts to chip away as it ages in this application. The stock reeds just don't close as tight as they used to.

Not saing your wrong but, ive never seen a chipped away carbon fiber reed. Ive seen a broken one. Ive seen a worn stock reed that doesnt stay shut. In my days of running 2 strokes ive run both carbon fiber reeds and stock style reeds and would no way say stock reeds are stronger.

My '00 yz 250 has had v-force reeds since new. My ridding partner who only rides 3/4 as much as me has stock on his '00 cr250. We both did our top ends for the second time last summer, and for the second time he bought a new set of duel stage stock style reeds cuz they were not sitting flat. As for me, those weak azz '00 carbon firber one still do the job!!!

Mine were the carbon fiber reeds. I have been looking at reeds all day and don't know if the ones I have are still available. Mine say Moto Tassinari in the plastic and V Force on the top. The only replacements I've seen are the V Force 2and 3. I don't want to buy a whole new reed cage if I don't have to. I looked at the stock ones online and it looks like they won't flow as well. Anybody know if the replacement petals are all interchangable?

Not sure about that one. I was thinking of getting the new v-force three for mine just cuz. Im sure you can call them direct and get all the info you need.

I thought I would let you Quadzilla people know I got the quad running with the new V-Force 3 reeds. I did take my carb apart to replace the needle valve and found that a piece of metal had broken off in the float chamber causing the valve to not close. I am guessing there was too much fuel going into my engine creating too much pressure for the reeds to handle. One other thing I noticed, the new V-Force 3 reeds have more smaller petals than the older V-Force reeds. By the looks of them they should be able to handle the pressure better than the old ones. Just my $.02.

Or you are just getting parts that have been sitting on a shelf for years now that a Quadzilla is a rare breed.

Rare breed? I see Quadzillas everytime I go to Dumont and sometimes out at the local dunes I go to. I have yet to go to Glamis, but I plan to go this year. Granted, there are not as many Quadzilla as there are Banshees, but they were only made for four years. The V-Force 3 reeds are a new design, so they can't be too old.

Around here they are few and far between. Usually seen in less than showroom condition.