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

[noiseguy]

Odd, plugged intake? Are you holding the throttle wide open?

Get a compression tester and post numbers. Low compression just doesn't sound right, b/c you've gotten it to run on ether.

Is your carb set correctly? Idle screw open to correct setting? Is that passage clear?

Odd that you can't feel suction at the carb... I'm wondering about the condition of your reed valves.

Also, when you oiled the filter, what oil did you use and did you get rid of the excess? Those filters typically break down over the years, and I'm surprized yours was "cleanable." Spree will often not run without a filter and stock airbox attached.

The "choke" expands downward slightly over 30 seconds, like 2-3mm. Not something you can check by eye, and easy to work around as posted.

[Dragon]

Some answers, though not all yet...

The throttle seems to be a problem. I don't understand it. When I remove the throttle assembly from the top of the carb, then, the throttle control works through its full range. In other words, if I let go, then it closes fully and then as I turn it, the spring gradually contracts and this continues through the full range of turning the throttle handlebar. However, when I put the throttle assembly back into the carb, I have to squash about one inch (almost) of spring just to get it back into there. Then, the handle bar does not return to the full close position. Rather, it's just loose--you can turn it forward or backward, but there is nothing happening with the cable when you turn it. I think this means that I have to adjust the amount of free play in the cable, but I don't know how to do that.

I have a friend with a compression tester--I'll post numbers when I connect with him soon.

The carb settings are all good. The jets are clear. The screws are at the places they are supposed to be.

Don't know what a "reed valve" is.

I cleaned the air filter element in a bucket of gasoline. Just squeezed it out a bunch of times--the gas turned all black, and the filter got clean. Then I put gear oil 80 W 90 on it and squeezed it out.

Don't think the choke is a problem. I did the manual choke procedure, and it still would not start. That's not it--it's something else.

I really do appreciate your help.

[Mormonmopedmaifa]

ok i did the exact same thing about 2 days ago lol. the reason you cant get the throtle to close all the way is probly cause i got it in the carb wrong. the long slot on the side should be facing the inside of the moped. the short little funky slot should be on top of the idle screw. i dont know if that will make it start but that should help your throttle sitiation. if that doesnt try the idle screw up near the throttle handle . it loks like a real long hex nut. take that and loosen it until theres no space at the bottom of your throttle. (when u pull the throtle u can feel the spring pulling back)

WOO HOO I THK I FINALLY HELPED SUM1 ON HERE!!!

[noiseguy]

Yep. You're putting the slide in backwards.

You don't know what a reed valve is? Welcome to 2-strokes. Read the service manual. Don't think this is your problem, though.

Something basic isn't happening here. Where are you located?

[Mormonmopedmaifa]

yeah im pretty sure my idea wont make it run perfect but it wilmake the throttle smooth again and not all * up.

[Dragon]

Thanks Mormonmopedmaifa, but I can't find anything that matches that description. You say there's an "idle screw up near the throttle handle" and that "it looks like a real long hex nut."
Can you give me any more details on the description/location. When I look under the throttle handle I see lots and lots of open holes. Maybe I used to have a hex screw that fell out???

Hi Noiseguy, I'm in the greater Quad Cities area--Davenport, IA and Moline, IL. Do you know a good mechanic in the area?

[noiseguy]

No, but someone around there might be able to stop by. My wife's family is out that way.

Don't worry about the handlebar adjustment; get the rest of the stuff straighted out first.

[Dragon]

Ok, I got the compression tester and hooked it up. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm not sure what I'm doing. I hit the electric starter and watched the guage. It rapidly bounced back and forth between 60 psi and 130 psi, and then after about eight seconds, it just stopped still at 130 psi. I think that's good, right?

I think my problem is in the throttle assembly. I tried taking it out completely. Then I put about a half teaspoon of gas into the hole vacated by the throttle assembly. Then I put my finger over the throttle assembly and gave it a try. Zoom. It revved up extremely fast. I mean EXTREMELY fast. I had to kill it by turning the key.
Then I put the throttle assembly back in. Again, it's just stuck in the fully closed position when I put it in. The handlebar doesn't operate at all. Then I tried to start it again and nothing. It won't start at all.
I have a question. I'm not sure if my little experiment revved up fast because of the gas that I manually put in the carb, or if it was successfully sucking gas from the bowl. Neither am I completely sure that my petcock is functioning perfectly. So my question is this. If I do this again and don't kill it with the key--that is to say, if I just let it rev at very very high speed for, say, a few minutes, would that hurt the engine? If I did try that and it worked for three minutes, then I would know that the petcock is working and that the carb main jet is working and that there's some vacuum sucking fuel up from the bowl.
My problem is that I still don't feel any vacuum at all when I put my finger over the throttle assembly hole. So, I'm still not sure if there's any vacuum sucking anything out of the bowl.

Thanks

[vette76]

u dont really wanna race it frome a cold start. this could damage pistons,rings cylinder and all that.

[noiseguy]

At 130 your compression is good. Too good. Think about pulling the exhaust and checking for carbon in the exhaust port. Ditto for the head and piston top. But deal with the carb first, doesn't sound like it's keeping it from running.

You need to figure out what's going on with your slide. It needs to be able to go up and down. If it's not doing that then that is your problem. Basic stuff, cable, assembled correctly, etc. You are putting the slide in the right way? The angled part faces the back.

Running without the slide is like running at wide open throttle, just the main jet will be going. If you run it like that a few minutes on the stand you'll likely blow the engine and/or set it on fire.

[Claude Zachary]

took apart carb today, cleaned it, put it back on with throttle valve assembly turned around....got back on computer read this stuff, big thanks for these posts, purring like a lil kitten now

[Wheelman-111]

Greetings:

Nearly ten years later the Wisdom retains its value.