Reed valves

[Cam defran]

If there's a slight gap between my reeds will that make my bike laggy like run like garbage? It's not snappy anymore and it's spitting black sh*t out by the fatty.....it has boyssen reeds with no reed stops i can see light thru the reeds.....should there be no gap between the two sets?

 

[Larry's Shee]

Shouldn't be any gap, but there is a tolerance. Look in the manual for it (ain't much)
Could try flipping them. Be sure to use loctite on screws.