Very hard starts, even with starting fluid into cylinder

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 11:39 am

Ummm yea, starting fluid into intake didnt help my hard start problem so I tried taking the spark plug out and giving it a squirt right into the motor, still VERY hard to start.

Im going to have to go pick up a compression tester on payday so I can see what is up. I also noticed a tiny bit of oily looking fluid on the new spark plug. Could I be sucking up tranny oil? Bad crank seals??

It looked more like motor oil than 2 stroke oil.

hondaman · Post by **hondaman** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:32 pm

No you wont be sucking up tranny oil. What does the oil look like in your plastic oil reservoir. If you are not sure its oil for mopeds or scooters than drain it all out. If you have motor oil in there you are in for a world of hurt. I would check that first.

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:57 pm

The oil in resevoir is greenish blue 2 stroke oil. The oil on the spark plug looked like motor oil. Blackish brown.

hondaman · Post by **hondaman** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:30 pm

You said its hard to start but can you get it started? If yes than how does it run? Is the carb clean? Does it have good power when it is running?
Can you feel good exhaust pressure from end of exhaust pipe? When you crank it over can you feel any pressure coming out of end of exhaust? If not then it is plugged or your manifold is plugged.

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:48 pm

It runs good once started but doesnt like to start even when warm. It takes like 5 solid minutes of cranking to start.

Once started it will do like 25 mph but lacks acceleration. It does better over about 7 mph. There is pressure out of exhaust.

hondaman · Post by **hondaman** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:09 pm

sounds like carb or choke problem. You also may have excessive carbon buildup on your cylinder head. Look in manual for decarbonizing the head.
Your float in carb may not be working properly either. Try a new sparkplug. Clean or replace air filter. Just a few things to check out besides testing for compression.

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:15 pm

I also tried the remove the bystarter and put thumb over the hole trick, still hard to start. I took the intake tube off after trying to start it and there was some gas dripping out of the intake tube.

Spark plug is new and I just cleaned the carb. How do you get the idle jet out? Which one is it?

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:01 am

Well I broke down and bought a compression tester, the best 22 bucks Ive ever spent.

The Spree has 61 lbs of compression. Not enough to run well I see.

Could the oil pump O ring be a source of compression leak? Or just rings? What about reed valve? What does a bad reed valve look like? It looks like the oil pump has some fresh oil around the outside of it. Im not sure if its 2 stroke or crank case oil. Maybe both.

I think I might go pull the reed valve and inspect it.

darat · Post by **darat** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:36 am

more then likely the rings..

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:16 am

Any chance it could be the reeds? I did notice gas in the intake tube after trying to start it. Probably rings though.

Post by **noiseguy** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:54 pm

It's rings. Replace and hone cylinder. While you're at it, drain out that gunky green oil and get some real 2-stroke injection oil.

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:00 pm

Will do. What is a good brand of synthetic 2 stroke oil to use?

What is "honing" I assume its some kind of abrasive pad to clean out the cylinder? Is there a walkthrough on replacing rings? Pics are a plus.

Post by **noiseguy** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:01 pm

D/l the service manual, rings aren't trivial.

MySpree · Post by **MySpree** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:03 pm

well since i have nothing else to do ill take some pics of a step by step on my express engine since it sstitting in the work bench...

jbarb · Post by **jbarb** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:33 pm

That would be awesome. Congrats on losing your ingrate status. Wonder who the new forum ingrate is?