I have a 1997 sx 700 and i am getting a lot of conflicted thoughts from folks off this site on reed notching versus reed spacers. Can anyone give me the good and bad side to notching versus spacers or visa versa. Thanks and happy riding. 

nitris223
New member
I did the notch ( Free ) versus the spacer. Some say the spacer will move the carbs out to far and one will hit the steering shaft. I did notice that the throttle response was better.
notch=free. spacer=less money in your pocket. i have not seen a dyno test but i have done this to mine and along w/head gasket mod cheap and easy now go get wrenchin!!!
bufalobob
Member
reed notches add 0 h.p. on the dyno!!
bob
bob
mopar1rules
Active member
bob, what do you see on the dyno w/reed spacers....like 2-3hp?
swmichsx
New member
i doubt you see an HP gain with the spacers . i have the v force reeds with the spacers and i doubt you see any HP gain there either.BUT , it sure feels a lot smoother than it did so that is worth quite a bit to me.
sockeyerun
Test Dummy
I have done both. Maybe no more horsepower, but it does help to clean up the mid range burbble by opening up a partially blocked port and does add a little more throttle response. I started out by using reed spacers, but they do push your carbs back and against your steering post. The middle carb bowl will rub on the shaft and could eventually wear a hole in your carb bowl
. I had small spacers under the air box to push the carbs up a tad and stuck a little dot on the rub spot(made of some kind of rubber material, like you would put under something so it won't scratch the surface it's sitting on). The corner of my bowl is almost flat from the rubbing in the first few hundred miles before I noticed it, luckily I was messing with my carbs at the time. After doing this it did not get any worse. But for piece of mind I decided to try the reed notch. It did the same thing. I could have saved 45 bucks also. Hope this helped. Soc

Thanks everyone. I am going to do the notching. I was just concerned that notching may cause a possible reed failure. I am not looking for extra ponies but rather to clean up my midrange. It burbles pretty bad on the trails. Cheers all and keep the rubber side down. 

bufalobob
Member
reed spacers same as notches - 0 h.p..
drop the needle 1/2 clip. cleans up the midrange!
bob
drop the needle 1/2 clip. cleans up the midrange!
bob
Yamadooed
New member
notch em, drop a half clip,142.5 mains across, 51/43 secondary,head gasket mod, bored exhaust , drop one tooth on the top gear you'll think yer on a different sled. All this great info is in here somewhere in tech and should cost ya less than $150 for all of the pieces... ps I'll personally guarauntee it don't suk.
if you do the notch and you get the same result as dropping the needle wouldnt the notch be the way to go(more fuel and air = more power)?bufalobob said:reed spacers same as notches - 0 h.p..
drop the needle 1/2 clip. cleans up the midrange!
bob
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bufalobob
Member
if the midrange needs to be cleaned up it's getting to much fuel. dropping the needle will reduce fuel flow & increase midrange performance & fuel milage!
bob
bob
yamahablue8081
New member
Is there anyplace to get better instructions and pics on how to do the "reed notch" ??
mopar1rules
Active member
not really i don't think. weren't my instructions helpful? look at the pictures and re-read my instructions. its easy to do the mod.