'84 Spree IS SO IRRITATING!!

[henrietta]

I posted here about my '84 Spree about a week ago, but I can't find the thread to add to it, so I'm reposting again in hopes that one of you kind souls will be able to help me start saving gas!! (And having fun)

I replaced the battery, and it started, ran for about 30 minutes, then wouldn't restart. I had a mechanic come over and look at it. We cleaned the carb, cleaned the ignition switch, checked the starter motor, (teeth were little ground, but it still caught and turned) and after all that, he told me it might be the coil. I replaced the coil and recharged the battery. It started this morning, but when I came home from work 5 hours later, it wouldn't start. CDI box? Any other ideas? Please help!!

I tried to block off the air holes and choke it but that won't work either.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Are you holding your fingers over the holes while cranking it and giving it throttle?

[henrietta]

Yes. It's gotta be something electrical. The starter will turn, I can hear it cranking..it's just that it won't start all the way. And the battery doesn't seem to wanna hold a charge. I charged it overnight and it started this morning. And it's BRAND NEW. I just replaced the coil too.

[michaelg]

Have you pulled the plug to make sure you are getting spark?

[noiseguy]

Heck, when was the last time you replaced the plug?

It sounds like your battery is not charging while running, or that you have a short somewhere that's draining the battery. Have your mechanic buddy check to see if the voltage at the battery comes up on rev (if not, replace regulator). Then remove ground to battery and do a current test from battery to ground with key off. Should read 0 amps.

[henrietta]

It will start if the battery is charged up, but when I take it around for a bit, and turn it off and then try to restart it, no go. So I know you're right about the battery not holding a charge. The regulator is the CDI unit? Is that right?

[Kenny_McCormic]

CDI is ignition system, the big aluminum finned block is the rectifier/regulator (although I dont think it does any regulating, I could be wrong). You can test the rectifier with a multimeter.

[dukemartini]

It sounds like the battery is being drained somehow, my sb50 never charged the battery but i could start and run the thing (using the horn and turn signals) for almost a week without draining the battery too low to start the scoot.

[henrietta]

Two days ago, I got it running after charging the battery, drove it around. It was working ok, except that the throttle was kinda off - it would idle super high and sounded like I was giving it full gas. I put the brake on to stop it. The next day, (yesterday) it started, with some effort, but without another charge. I let it sit on idle for about 10 minutes or so. This morning it wouldn't start. If I can get it going, I'll take it to the local scooter shop and see if I can get them to test the rectifier/regulator - I don't have the testing device myself. Thanks for all your posts - I'll update as soon as I take it to the shop.

I just wanna be on the road!!

[Kenny_McCormic]

Your carb is out of whack for starters, your gonna smoke a belt/clutch runnig like that.

[henrietta]

Does the carb need to be rebuilt if the bike is running like that?

[mopedman]

no it probably just needs to be adjusted

[Muzzy]

Henrietta:

Try to get a small battery charger maintainer which clumps directly on the battery + and -. Plug it when you do not use your scooter, it will keep your battery charged. I had the same problem with my Spree SQ 50. It works. Sometimes if I do not use my scoot for a few days, it might hesitate when I start, but generally it will start when I keep the battery constantly charged.