Spree - Carb -o- Death

[rawhead]

I bought a used 1985 Spree that was dying at full throttle.
I took the carb apart inspected
Every nook and cranny. I removed the float, needle and seat, high speed jet, mixture screw, and tube going to the pilot jet. I sprayed inside and out, made sure all lines were clear, except.... that pesky pilot circuit. I am able ro put a wire up from the pickup in the float bowl, and down from the top.
Yet, I am unable to put a wire all of the way through. I have been reading forums for a week.
I must be offset. Tomorrow I plan ro blast it with 100psi. Symptoms; dies at full throttle, mixture screw only turns out half a turn before the engine gets too lean, instead of richer, new clear line to vaccuum fuel valve, I can see pulses in. I can suck on the fuel valve seems tight, releases fuel. I have never seen a carb go lean when you turn out the mixture screw. But I have never rebuilt a Spree carb before. This thing is driving me batty, help!

[patthesoundguy]

Pilot won't make it die at wot. How is the air box, cover and cover gasket there? Air filter oiled and in good shape. Hose connected? Make sure needle on the slide has the clip in the middle, and did you pop out the brass tube the needle goes throug to clean the small holes on it as well? Apply vacuum to the petcock with the fuel line off and confirm you have proper fuel flow. Shine a bright flashlight in the tank and inspect the screen in the tank make sure its not clogged with crap if you don't have too flow. Also the the idle mixture screw on the carb works in reverse of most small engine mixture screws, out is lean in is rich. It controls air not fuel, the pilot jet meters the fuel flow the screw meters the air for the pilot circuit. As for the reed hole in the bowl for the pilot circuit, spray carb cleaner through it, if it comes through its clear. You should be able to see the wire poke throgh . the hills is at about a 45dgree angle from inside the bowl

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[Pete M]

Not all carbs will let a wire go through the pilot port. The pilot port is a 3 way orifice. From the brass tube up into the carb throat and through the adjustment needle. If you spray carb cleaner into the needle seat it should blow out the brass pipe and the carb throat. If it is dyeing at full throttle you are not getting sufficient flow from the main jet. Make sure you remove and clean the brass tube under the main jet. While the engine is running check for air intake leaks and make sure your air filter housing seals properly and the filter is oiled properly.

[rawhead]

Thank you both,
I am going to try both of your ideas.
I will check back in a few hours with my findings.
Dave

[rawhead]

Okay, did everything suggested, looks like pilot is clogged.

[Trafficjamz]

If the spree dies when you give it throttle, that is usally an air leak. Make sure you have the air box and filter in place before you try to ride.

[rawhead]

Thank you,

I just re-sprayed the carb cleaner, and it does in fact come out the pilot hole.
Yeah, the air intake, and filter are in place when I ride it. Er, so now what?
Shoots at Spree, pow, pow, pow! >:)

[patthesoundguy]

Now I would start to look for other issues, bad plug maybe, what's the gap on the plug? Does it just bog when you go you wot, or die altogether. Usually when a spree idles fine and dies on wot, its missing something in the intake tract, like the cover or the gasket in the cover of the airbox is missing or mangled. You could be having bystarter issues but usually it won't die or bog that bad it four strokes like mad and i say usually, so anything is possible. I'd also start checking electrical connections like the wires that feed the coil and the ground connections on the frame,and the cdi box connections. Maybe post a video of what is doing, we might have a better idea with that.

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[rawhead]

Thank you,
I pulled the plug, "white.
I rebuilt it again, now 6 times.
I am going to check every electrical connection
As you suggest.
Maybe a video, how do I post those?
Btw, crank seal maybe?
Dave

[patthesoundguy]

Take a flashlight and look at the very base of the electrode porcelain on the plug, is it white or is there a brown ring? If its an old plug and its white, its really lean. You might be able to use a photo sharing site like photo bucket to post a video like you would a pic. A compression test would show bad crank seals, it wouldn't likely start with bad seals I wouldn't think.
Is it really hard to start after it dies at wot? Is there oil in the oil tank and is there oil in the lines? Maybe there is a oil delivery problem and is soft seizing. Hard to say with out hearing it.
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[rawhead]

I will check the spark plug tomorrow for a leak, good idea, thank you.
I am getting sick of this thing. Grrrrr!!!!
Too bad I put new tags on it and put it in my name.
now I have $450.00 in the clunker.
Sighs..................

[rawhead]

I am half temped to pick up a used horizontal shaft
Ohv engine, and a centrifical clutch.
My buddy is a welder, so we could make it work.
Getting really tired of this engine.
Could make a rear fork, put any tire in it, sprocket, etc. .......

[jeepmaned]

If the spree dies when you give it throttle, that is usally an air leak. Make sure you have the air box and filter in place before you try to ride.

I have worked on lots of engines in 40+ years and normally you can run/test motors with air filter box off, and not have issues. I was having crazy high rev issues while testing my 85 spree. As soon as I hooked the air box backup....problem went away.

[rawhead]

Its crazy isn't it?
Honda did a great job designing the Spree.
But the carb, hmmmmm??????,..........

[rawhead]

I have to admit, Almost every carb I have ever serviced was on a lawnmower. They are simple,
And I have never run into this.