Pair Valve Block Off Plates Question

I previously had pair valve removed and caped, caps have dried out over time. I just received block off plates and seems they would seal better against reed gaskets if left in, then if reeds were removed,

Thoughts?

No need to remove reeds.

I agree, I left them as they seem to seal better with them in.

Leave the reed gaskets in. 

Some pics as fyi

When you first crack it open this is what you see. Unscrew carefully the small screw holding the reed valve. 

 [image: Firstlook20.jpg]

Slip out the reed valves....

[image: Second20.jpg]

Put the plate back

[image: Thrid20.jpg]

Bolt on cover plate.....

[image: PairValveplaterear2.jpg]

Not really since you only remove some of the screw head. It doesn't take very much to keep them from interfering. And since you take off only enough to clear the plates, there isn't enough room for the screws to back out and come loose.

When I installed my plates I could fit a .002 shim stock between the plates and the mounting surface. Even after ensuring the plates were flat I still had clearance, indicating the mounting surface wasn't 100% flat. That was when I put the reed valves back in so the rubber would seal any imperfections. And I didn't want to booger them up just in case I wanted to put everything back to stock if I didn't like the results. I do like the results and am glad I did it.

O I C.  I had visions of the screws heads ground all the way off.

Not at all. In fact you can still see the slots in the screwheads.

For the halibut, I still have plenty left....

http://www.vfrdiscus...6th-gens/page-2