Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Just made the first big order off Ebay!

-Polini Corsa
-Polini Variator (The one for the Ruckus 50cc)
-Polini Sport Belt
-Polini 2g Evo Clutch
-1k Center Spring
-Polini Roller Wieghts (6.6g-9.1g)
All are on their way, i cant wait to see em

There's nothing like opening a fresh box of Italian scooter parts I eagerly await pictures!

Alright so i finally got the cylinder head back and i was super excited to see it for the first time in three weeks!
Then as i looked it over i noticed a few things that definately are not right. Well, take a look for yourself...

P1010712 by jpetrak, on Flickr

P1010714 by jpetrak, on Flickr

P1010713 by jpetrak, on Flickr
Not only did they take the 14 degree angle inwards past the specified 41mm mark. But the 48mm mark is non-existant.Oh, and they indexed the face of the head by .005 inches. Its no biggy, and i get they wanted to make sure it was flat but cmon, it wasnt necessary.
The good news is they didn't charge me for the job because it was so small and they really are a great group of guys.
Is there any way to make this run-able?
Could stacking a couple head gaskets make it okay?
Any thoughts on if it will work or not?

****For the Spree engine***

Well dang, it might actually be workable!!!
I pulled out a tape measure and crudely meausred the very outside of the slanting ring, this thing...

P1010713 by jpetrak, on Flickr
It came out as a 1 and 7/8 inch diameter (roughly of course)
Thats 1.875. I converted the 48mm to inches and it came out as 1.88 inches.
Thats a rough measurement and ill take it into school tomoro to get a dial caliper on it but i think it could be okay!!

Was that cut from an '84 head?

Yeah, it was.
Does that make a difference?

Yes

The 1984 and 85 head is shaped different.

the 84 an 85 piston was not dome shaped so the head was pretty flat and shallow.

the 86 and later spree heads are deeper and more dome shaped.

Okay gotcha.
So do i start stacking head gaskets until compression is reasonable?
What should my compressions be with the 48mm taz bbk?
And does it matter if the gaskets are paper or aluminum?

Compression should be between 120 - 140 psi

Any higher than that , and it becomes very difficult to tune and would require premium gas.


No paper head gaskets.

Ah crap well i guess i'll see if taz will be willing to sell me just some more head gaskets for a few bucks.
We'll see what happens, there is no way i can cut my own aluminum head gaskets. Way too much $$$

Okay so this afternoon i went out and got a compression tester. I torwued the head down to spec as well as made sure the intake bolts were down to spec. I screwed the compression tester in and got a whoping 30 psi! Woo! NOT!!
I know im doing something wrong. All the seals are good and all. Here's some pics of what it looks like when i tried doing the compression test.
Here's the set up i tried to compression test...

P1010717 by jpetrak, on Flickr
Maybe i need the exhaust bolted on? The oil plug seals nice

P1010718 by jpetrak, on Flickr
Or maybe put the carb on?

P1010720 by jpetrak, on Flickr

Im such a noob at this so any beat down is well deserved
I read in the manual that you should let it run and warm up, then do the test. Well can you just do the test cold?
I tired looking through old posts but couldn't find anything there.
Any advice is very welcome

The head is on sideways. The airflow is side to side.

Rotate the head 90 degrees and get the plastics on it before you overheat it.

Aside from that, looking good!

Okay great! Nah, i havent even started it yet, i was just trying to check compression to make sure i dont really screw something up before i try to start it.
Maybe the compression test isnt the way to do this?
But even if it isnt shouldnt i be getting more than 30psi?

You did put the rings on the piston, didn't you?

Does it stay at 30psi or does it only flutter around the 30psi mark while cranking?

The carb and exhaust do not need to be on to do the test.

Put a little (maybe a teaspoon) 2stroke oil on top of the piston and check it again.

Yeah, I have the rings on the piston and already did the oil thing. I have the head and base gasket on as well as other gaskets. Maybe I'm not using the tester right? I'm not quite sure