Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

To measure the length of the needle travel on the bystarter I read that you can put the leads across 12vdc and check after 10 minutes or so. But...my bystarter has a plastic quick-connect at the end so the leads are not exposed to do this test. Should I just jam some wire in there? Or is there another point to disconnect? Do the wires pop out of that connector?

Forgive me, But I am going to ask a stupid question.

Are you having problems starting the bike or keeping it running when cold?

To answer your question- Yes you can just put power to it.

Idle when cold is the issue. It'll stay running if i hold the throttle open a bit. Once it's warmed up, it sits and idles great.

How does the opening look when you remove the bystarter valve. Is it clean? I would flush this out with a little fuel or carb cleaner.
You just want to see that it gets longer when energized.

I cleaned the heck out of it when I did my carb cleaning. I swapped out the carb on that bike when i found that the tube next to the main jet was kinked from the previous owner trying to pull it out with pliers.

One thing to note is that tube that the needle rests in was out when I opened the replacement carb to clean it. I cleaned and re-seated it. I wonder if it's not seated all the way in? (or pushed in too much)?

Brad,
Remove the screws and lift the choke slightly out of the carb while you crank the engine. If it starts the carb is ok, by-starter is bad.

I live in Kansas City. I will for the most part be out of town until Halloween, but willing to lend a hand and do some riding.

I have about 15 spree's so if you need parts I probably have them. NO CARBS OR BYSTARTERS though.

There are a few others from KC on here as well!

It starts, it just doesn't idle until it's warmed up. Would that test still confirm that?

The bystarter is only a choke to help it start.

Alarmnbob wrote:The bystarter is only a choke to help it start.

Not quite true. The bystarter is an automatic choke that until the heater in the bystarter warms up the fuel mixture is enriched. The enrichment helps the cold idle.