1986 spree stored in garage for 15 years won't start

[vette76]

no needles. compressed air is the best way to go.

[noiseguy]

OK, Noiseguy. I'm starting to think you're right. Took the carb apart again. I can see light through two jets--the main jet and the choke jet (I don't know if those are the real names). There is a little jet about a centimeter from the main jet. I don't know where it's supposed to lead. Am I supposed to see light through that one also? Or does it make a turn somewhere in there? I cannot see light through the little tiny jet. Is that the idle jet?

I've soaked carb overnight--still can't see the light. I don't have access to any compressed air. Would that make a difference? I suppose I can go get a can of the stuff. Or would it make more sense to just wait longer? Or should I stick a little needle down in there? What's the best method?
Thanks

That little jet is the idle jet. Get some access to compressed air, although I've usually had good luck with carb cleaner and the little red tube they come with. Try a toothpick as a last resort.

[Dragon]

Ok, I've cleaned the carb yet again. I think this may be a unique idea. I tried just blasting the jet with the directed carb spray going through the little red straw, but much of the spray splattered all over. So, I actually used the drain hose from the carb, attached it to the idle jet, then squashed the red straw down the other end in order to build up the pressure. It wasn't sealed perfectly tight, but it was much more pressure than anything I'd done before.
I saw the light. It was very very small; very very faint. Hardly anything. But, I clearly saw light through the jet.
Then I hooked it all back up and this whole effort had no effect. The thing still is not getting gas. It will run if I squirt starter fluid in from the air box, but that's it. It's not getting gas. The carb bowl fills. Every time I take the thing apart again, there is gas in the bowl. And if I drain the carb using the little plug on the bottom and then crank the kickstart a few times, the gas re-fills the bowl. There's gas in the bowl--it's just not going anywhere from there.
The three jets are clear--three lights. But now I have three questions.

1) The choke jet (don't know if that's the real name) rests inside a little cylindrical chamber that is separated from the rest of the gas in the bowl. It appears that there is a tiny little hole that should be connecting this separate chamber from the main bowl. However, that tiny little hole is not letting anything through. I filled the chamber with carb cleaner and nothing dripped through the hole into the main chamber. Is that a problem?

2) What is the actual force that drives the gas upwards from the bowl (assuming clear jets)? Is there supposed to be some kind of vacuum that sucks the gas upwards? Is it possible that whatever is supposed to produce the vacuum is not doing it?

3) When I attach the throttle assembly to the top of the carb, there are two options. I can put the long slot over the inner peg, or I can put the short slot over the inner peg. Which is correct?

Thanks

[hondaman]

It should be the long slot aligned with the idle screw. Youn will know if it is correct because the throttle valve will fall easily down farther then if you have it in the wrong way.

[noiseguy]

When was the last time you checked your spark plug? Do you have good blue spark?

[Dragon]

My spark plug I changed out for a new one when I got the thing. Since I never actually got it truly started, I figured the brand new spark plug had to be good. However, I checked it anyway and guess what--it's all full of oil. There's also some oily gunk built up on it. What does that mean?

[Dragon]

How do I check to see if the choke mechanism is working? I removed the choke mechanism from the top of the carb, and then hit the electric starter a few seconds. I figured that choke worked by retracting the needle up a bit when the choke was engaged. Is this not true?
Unfortunately, my choke did nothing at all. When I pressed the starter and the thing cranked a few times, the choke needle never budged a millimeter. Does that mean it's bad, or do I just need a different way of testing?

[hondaman]

Remove the screws that hold the choke into the carb.
Lift the choke slightly out of the carb body while cranking the engine.
If the engine starts then the choke is not working.
What you are basically doing is manually choking the carb by doing this.
If the engine doesn't start then your problem is probably with the carb.

[Justinsane]

actually, on second thought, just beat that bad boy with a hammer and she'll start right up..

[noiseguy]

Means you probably need a new plug. Stored Spree crankcases like to fill up with oil, and puke it on new plugs. Plan on replacing a couple more.

BTW, did you drain the oil tank and refill with fresh injector oil (not premix)?

[thermarest]

I had exactly the same situation as you just this month--old spree sitting for years. It wouldn't start at all, no firing, nothing. A very thorough cleaning of the carb was all it needed, but it took me 3 tries to do it right.

My final crux was just like yours--the idle jet. (this is the long, thin tube 1cm from the main jet). Completely plugged, no light, and no amount of soaking or pressurized air or pins and needles would clean it. Finally, I grabbed it hard with a pair of pliers and pulled and wiggled it until it came out. Then it was a snap to clean, put it back in and drove my spree around town. Sat for 10 years and now I drive it every day. I'd say a can of air would be very helpful (I buy 4 packs at costco for $10) .

[Dragon]

Well guys, I've cleaned this carb for many hours. It is very clean. Even the idle jet is very clean--I can see a clear small light through it.

Still, the thing won't start. It will only start when I squirt fuel in from the top.

So, I'm thinking why won't the fuel go from the bowl up the jets into the intake? Then I try removing the throttle assembly, sticking my thumb over the hole very tightly, and cranking it like that. The starter motor cranks it just fine, but there's no vacuum. I could not feel anything on my thumb. Shouldn't the vacuum be strong enough there with ten seconds of cranking that it could be felt by a human thumb? I just don't know where to go next. Junk yard? Or is there something left still to try?

[noiseguy]

I take it you do not own a compression checker? If not, put your thumb over the spark plug hole and crank. Thumb should be blasted off the hole. If not you don't have enough compression to start. Put a tablespoon of oil in the carb (you should always do this on stored engines) and try again.

Most car parts places do "free rentals" on compression checkers. Call around and post back with numbers. If compressions over 90 it should start. 115 is spec, below 100 is rebuild territory.

[noiseguy]

BTW, you do have gas in the bowl, right?

[Dragon]

OK, I took off the spark plug, stuck my finger in the hole and cranked. The result is that my finger is sucked into the hole somewhat then released (neutral) and this happens once for each "crank" that I hear in the starter motor. I felt no compression at all. It was clearly a vacuum sucking my finger into the spark plug hole.
So, where does that leave me?