Reed valves - checking them?

[tigertim20]

Have just pulled reed block off, as I suspect they are causing issues.
I shone a small penlight through the carb side, and looked at it from the engine side.
around one side of the reeds, I can see light shining through around the edges.

does this mean they are shagged and need replacing?

and if they are loose/bent enough that light can be quite easily seen shining through like that, will this cause issues with starting?

[CHOPPA]

I would be replacing but you can sometimes turn them around

[CHOPPA]

But a bit of a gap shouldnt make the bike hard to start. I have had reeds break of the corners etc and the bike just gets a bit flat

[tigertim20]

turning them around made it even worse haha.
I shall get onto ordering some new ones then.