Opinion of Boyseen reeds in an Evinrude 200

[onlyaranger]

I have been told by my local dealer during a check up that I have a bad reed (#5) on my 1995 Evinrude 200 Vindicator which is on my Ranger. This is a carb engine. It has become increasingly difficult to cold start and when I was last running it for winterization late last fall, I had the engine cowling and the intake cowling off the 6 carbs while running and I saw excess fuel being spit out through #5 and a brief flame burst through the carb throat. I immediately shut it down and took it in.

I have been given an large bill for replacing all reeds with stock steel reeds and a much more reasonable bill for Boyseen reeds to be installed. My dealer has advised replacing all reeds, the choice is stock or Boyseen.

Any experience with anyone with Boyseen?
Thanks
Onlyaranger

[SEAHORSE]

It is very rare to have a reed break on a late model Johnson or Evinrude, unless they have been bent by hand or the motor is run way above it's rpm recommendations or backfires a lot due to improper tuning.

What is more common on your motor is a torn or dislodged reed box gasket which gives the same symptoms.

With Boyseen plastic reeds you may feel a small difference in acceleration at higher revs but they are very fragile. If the motor "sneezes" or backfires while starting it or at idle, you will be paying a mechanic again for a new set of reeds and the labor to install them.

For hi-pro folks the Boyseens are great but are not an item for the recreational boater.

[PushNit]

Have had them and have them in now on all my Johnsons and Evinrudes never had any problems. My mechanic always said they were a hop up item. And you could tell it when you put them in.

[AquaMarineNJ]

I would say stock. Are they sure the gasket did not suck in or blown out. If so just change the gasket. We have seen more gasket issues then reed issues.

[Dhadley]

Besides looking at the gasket, make sure the vertical linkage is adjusted correctly from under #3 carb assembly to #5. If the butterfly is slightly open it'll do that too. The adjustment to each lower throttle body can be a pain to get right.