Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

My spree is a 86 all electric,all stock, with about 800miles on it. So my spree had been running fine, and I would take it on about hour long rides at about 30mph, then I let it sit for a few weeks, then it would NOT turn over, so I took the hose from the carb and airbox off and put my finger over the carb, started right up. Put the airbox back on, sorta left the house loose, it goes around 15mph, but sorta bogs here and there. What should I do to remedy this? I tried searching here and there, but it's not the plug, carb is clean, has to do with the airbox I'm sure. I should also mention that the gasket between the carb and engine is a bit loose, I think I'm going to put some rtv in there, also, I see a bit of exhause coming from the gasket from the engine and muffler, so I need to fix that too, but the thing was running fine. Any help would be appreciated.

Well, first off a Spree won't run worth crap without a tight airbox and intake system (it is a tuned system) and you have a loose one (not tuned). Reinstall everything back the way it was. Now if you need to manually choke the engine, just plug the air intakes on the box with your fingers. It works as well as the way you did it and then engine will run right.

What do you mean "all electric"? Do you mean no kick starter?

correct sir, no kick start. I understand about the airbox etc but what would make me have to manually choke it? (cover the air intake)

absolutescottie wrote:correct sir, no kick start. I understand about the airbox etc but what would make me have to manually choke it? (cover the air intake)

No kick starter makes it a 1984 or 85 unless someone took off the kick starter, which makes no sense what so ever.

Manual choking is what you did when you covered the carb intake to start the engine.

I'll perhaps check the vin, the registration says 86, and it's been in my family forever, so I'm not sure who would have swapped the cover and remove the kickstart. I understand what manually choking the carb is, but what would make me have to do that? Something wrong with the electric choke etc?

absolutescottie wrote:I'll perhaps check the vin, the registration says 86, and it's been in my family forever, so I'm not sure who would have swapped the cover and remove the kickstart. I understand what manually choking the carb is, but what would make me have to do that? Something wrong with the electric choke etc?

Manually choking the carb is what you did to start the engine after it sat for several weeks. I quote what you said in your original post;

"....................so I took the hose from the carb and airbox off and put my finger over the carb, started right up." That is manually choking.

CORRECT! I understand WHAT exactly manual choking is, and that I did that, what I'm asking is WHY would I HAVE TO be manually choking the carb for it to start, what issue am I looking at that manual choking is needed.

Greetings:

what I'm asking is WHY would I HAVE TO be manually choking the carb for it to start, what issue am I looking at that manual choking is needed.

It's hard to be certain, but my suspicion is that your air filter is attempting to revert to the primordial Goo from whence it came. This made an impossibly rich mixture until you sort of "leaned" it out by cracking open the gaps in the intake plumbing. It sort-of worked but the mixture still isn't optimal. Furthermore your engine is now inhaling unfiltered air.

Suggest you hit up Honda-san for a new filter element, perform a diligent carb cleaning and change your spark plug. One of these things should address your issue.

absolutescottie wrote:CORRECT! I understand WHAT exactly manual choking is, and that I did that, what I'm asking is WHY would I HAVE TO be manually choking the carb for it to start, what issue am I looking at that manual choking is needed.

I've seen engine sit awhile and just don't suck well enough to draw the fuel thru the carb for the engine to start, bystarter or no.

inspect the port for the bystarter. and the bystarter its self. i believe it should read 10 ohms but you may wish to check the manual.

no cost inspection..

oh, get a new air filter. 4 $ at the local honda shop