06-03-2018, 09:48 PM
Operation of the engine, once started, could be affected by faulty reeds, but I think that if you choke the carb with the palm of your hand, as far as drawing fuel is concerned, it shouldn't matter if the reeds seal tight: The fuel pump should still be actuated by the fluctuations of the crankcase pressure. I'd check that the pulse hole of the carb lines up with the passage through the manifold and reed block, and also verify that the pulse hole is not obstructed by gaskets, sealant, or incorrect alignment of the parts. That, and/or try the known-good carb, in case the other two happen to be in disrepair.