Surging

mgregory · Post by **mgregory** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:11 pm

Hi everyone!

I bought my wife a 85 Honda Spree about a month ago (1000 miles on it).

It was running great, but am noticing when you are travelling at a constant speed, it surges and sputters. It's quite annoying actually. It never used to do that.

It was running great when I first got it - we probably put 100 miles on it since we got it. I checked everything over, cleaned the air filter, changed the spark plug, proper oil - everything is to spec.

It accelerates great with no misbehaving of the engine - its just when you hit cruising speed its starts sputtering.

As far as any changes over the last few weeks - the temperatures were at around 22c (72F) when we first got it - but now its hovering around 32c (90F). Not sure if its running too hot. I am running the good gas, 91 octane.

Any suggestions? Thanks all!

Oh, and I should mention in case its related - it always has run rough when you first start it. Starts great, but kind of gutless until you run it for a minute or so.

mixedbreed · Post by **mixedbreed** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:26 pm

I've heard it's best to stick 87 oct. Maybe the hot temp plus the higher oct making the engine run hotter might not be too good but I dunno I'm a noob with scooters.

Farfignugin · Post by **Farfignugin** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 3:38 pm

runnning rough cold is ok, thats ur automatic choke working.

as for running rough at cruising speeds, if u run it for long periods, try a colder running plug.

Yes it is best to use cheap gas, don't know specific octane, but the cheap gas usually works best. I think it was explained a while ago that the lower octane is easier to burn, thats why higher compression engines need the harder to burn fuel so they don't detonate.

mgregory · Post by **mgregory** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 5:06 pm

Okay! I'll try the lower octane.

Thanks!

mgregory · Post by **mgregory** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:31 pm

Okay - I ran a couple of tanks of the 86 octane (or whatever the regular fuel is). It was still surging...

So I put in a BRP8HS spark plug for extended high-speed riding, gappped it, took it for a rip... still the same. I bit better, but still the same.

I was going to clean out the fuel filter/strainer, but found there wasn't a filter in there. The previous owner must have pulled it out, forgot it, who knows. According to the service manual, an 85 spree should have a strainer you can clean out with compressed air.

I didn't feel like ripping the carb completely apart, so I just cleaned it good with carb cleaner, while running.

I just took it for a 20 minute rip and it never missed a beat - until on the way home. It was hicupping a bit.

Is it possible to put an inline fuel filter on this thing? I doubt I will be able to find the proper fuel filter for it.

islandbayy · Post by **islandbayy** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:43 pm

Try the second process for cleaning carb here, you wont have to take the carb apart.

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3

Post by **noiseguy** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:47 pm

Any decent cycle shop will sell you a sintered-metal 3/8" inline filter. I'd get one.