86' Spree Starts then Dies

[flyingdiver31]

After purchasing a 1986 spree that has sat for the last three years I have been working on it to get it running. I have replaced with all new gas, new oil, new plug, cleaned the airfilter (and taped off top holes in cap per reading other posts on this site), installed new throttle cable, cleaned carb, put everything back together.

Kicked it 6 or 7 times and it fired then died. Kicked it again and it ran for 10 seconds or less then died again. I have removed the gas cap to ensure its not vacuum locking, still no difference. I placed my hand by the exhaust while it does run and seems to have good amount of air coming out.

I can play with the throttle a little and it will barely keep it running for a second or two then dies again.

Note: when it does fire, it sounds healthy.

Vaccum leak? Gas Starvation?

thoughts?
Thanks for the help.

[martynkim]

Clean the carb again... Sorry...

[flyingdiver31]

Clean the carb again... Sorry...

I notice that the Auto-bystarter is "somewhat" easy to turn even when fully clamped down. I removed it, checked the needle, put it back on the carb. I kicked it and it took off great. Ran great for 10 seconds, allowed me to rev it a few times, then began to act as it had before then died.

There's got to be something significant with that right?

[martynkim]

Clean the carb again... Sorry...

I notice that the Auto-bystarter is "somewhat" easy to turn even when fully clamped down. I removed it, checked the needle, put it back on the carb. I kicked it and it took off great. Ran great for 10 seconds, allowed me to rev it a few times, then began to act as it had before then died.

There's got to be something significant with that right?

Loose is a problem.

[flyingdiver31]

If the seal is bad on the by-starter, could that cause the engine to run then die? I also noticed the by-starter is warm to the touch, after it runs a couple seconds, is that normal?

[martynkim]

Honestly, I can't say... Loose is going to cause issues. It needs a good seal.

[patthesoundguy]

The bystarter is supposed to be hot, it has a heating element in it to make it work so that's normal go to the manual and set the idle air mixture and idle speed according to its instructions it might just idle for you and it helps starting. Make sure the air box lid has a gasket and make sure the plug is gapped to .025" and if you need to clean the carb again, pay close attention to the small hole in the float bowl that feed the pilot circuit they are always clogged. Take a look in the tank with a bright flash light and see if the screen is clogged up. You can check feel flow by opening the drain screw on the bowl of the carb and cranking it over with the plug wire off. You can check the flow quick and easy that way.

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[flyingdiver31]

I got it running fairly well last night. I took your advice and re-cleaned the carb (again) and it seemed to run better. I drove it around for about 20 mintues, got it good and hot. Shut it off, started it back up and it ran and idled great. I thought I had fixed it. This afternoon I go out and start it and it repeated the issue with dying right away. So the warmer it got the better it ran. Does this give you any indication of what to try next?

Thanks,

[Lift Kit]

When you clean the carb, did you take the entire thing apart, including unscrewing and pulling out the main jet, throttle screw, mixture screw and so on?

[flyingdiver31]

I went back through the carb again and made sure to take "Everything" appart. I could not see the mysterious little hole in the side of the pilot tube. The more I looked for it the more I'm starting to think it doesn't exist. The only way there is a hole in the side of that brass tube along side the main jet tower is if the hole itself is facing the tower and I can't see it. I've been in machining for over 20 years and manufacture extremely small holes with Mills & Wire EDM's at ┬▒.0005" tolerance and I've never seen anything (other than a laser) that could cut a hole so small I can't see it with a 10x Eye Loop magnifier.

Anyway, once I put the carb back together and dialed in the Mixture & Idle screws, it ran much better. It is still very cold blooded at first. If you try and give it throttle within 30 seconds of starting it, it will bog down and die. If you restart it and keep working the throttle a little at a time, it runs just fine and will do about 31Mph with me on it (180lbs).

Any suggestions for improving the warm up issue?

Thanks
Doug

[paulpauly7]

check the bystarter operation also there is a visable pilot hole if you hold the carb at the right angle to the light .If you cant see it either your not looking in the right place or it is still blocked

[patthesoundguy]

The hole is in the float bowl. The brass tube from the top section of the carb goes into a hole. On the side of that in the float bowl is a small brass orifice, its prob clogged. You can check the bystarter, follow the vacuum test in the manual

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[flyingdiver31]

Thanks Guys. I appreciat the help.