Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

OK, have had some fuel come out the overflow. Already cleaned the carb, replaced the float valve needle with a NEW one and it STILL leaks.

What should I try next......new float itself? Is there any way to adjust it? I mean it is just the float, a pin, and a screw holding it down.

Only other thing it could be is the petcock.

The thing runs GREAT but when I park it....it slowly drips out the overflow on to the ground and the fumes are terrible!

Like Wheelman mentioned in the other post - try polishing the needle valve seat with rubbing compound (or toothpaste if desperate) on the end of a Q-Tip. Dremel makes a good lapping tool for this.

After re-assembly, test that the valve is air tight at the correct float height by blowing down the fuel hose.

Clivester wrote:Like Wheelman mentioned in the other post - try polishing the needle valve seat with rubbing compound (or toothpaste if desperate) on the end of a Q-Tip. Dremel makes a good lapping tool for this.

After re-assembly, test that the valve is air tight at the correct float height by blowing down the fuel hose.

I did polish the seat with a small q-tip and a little toothpaste on the end. I pulled a little of the cotton off so it would fit....put it on my cordless drill and polished it a little. It did look a little shiny inside so I felt like it had done the job. I am going to let it sit for a few days to see if it will seat itself. If it still leaks all week then I will disassemble and try the test to see if the valve is air tight.

Thanks for the advice!! That's why I get on here.

Your petcock is probably grunged up too. Both needle valve and petcock need to be leaking for fuel to drain from the carb. Try removing and cleaning the petcock.

did you replace the float yet? check to see if it is filling up. ther could be a small crack in it and fuel is seeping into the float weighing it down keeping the needle open. petcock could be sticking open or have a hole in the diaphram.

odinxxix wrote:did you replace the float yet? check to see if it is filling up. ther could be a small crack in it and fuel is seeping into the float weighing it down keeping the needle open. petcock could be sticking open or have a hole in the diaphram.

the float is good....no fuel inside of it the times I have taken it out. Seems to be good......wish the fuel bowl was clear like glass so you could tell how the float is reacting.

I guess I am going to take the petcock off and clean it again real good and give it one more try. I know that a new one is around $40......who on here has a good used one???

Now cleaning it......I am just going to soak it in Berryman's B-12 Chemtool......I have read that you don't want to use compressed air though.....that correct?

that is correct no compressed ait as it may damage the diaphram inside. i belive there is a thread in the tech area that shows one broken down. as for parts try bradthree,upsmale. check the wanted section there are a few spree partouts in there.

Here is my post that shows an opened petcock. It may help you with attempts to bring yours back to proper operation (if that's one of the problems of course).

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... it=petcock

Clivester wrote:Here is my post that shows an opened petcock. It may help you with attempts to bring yours back to proper operation (if that's one of the problems of course).

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... it=petcock

Well I got home today and pulled the fuel line off the carb and fuel just ran straight out of it......so I figured the petcock was bad, stopped up or something. I took off the petcock and sprayed it out with B-12 Chemtool carb cleaner. I really sprayed it out good and the test I did after I shook it out good enough for it to be dry (since I did not want to use compressed air) was I filled the top (where it big nut screws to the gas tank) with B-12 to see if it would run out the fuel outlet or the vacuum and it didn't leak at all. The top stayed full with the carb cleaner and did not leak out either outlet. I feel like this might have fixed the problem......what is another test I can do before mounting it back on again??

Greetings:

I suggest you plug a clean line to the vacuum port and briefly apply vacuum a few times to see if:
A: Fuel flows as it should when vacuum is applied, and
2: Fuel flow stops when vacuum is released.

If it passes those tests, you may be good to go.

Wheelman-111 wrote:Greetings:

I suggest you plug a clean line to the vacuum port and briefly apply vacuum a few times to see if:
A: Fuel flows as it should when vacuum is applied, and
2: Fuel flow stops when vacuum is released.

If it passes those tests, you may be good to go.

so basically......reinstall petcock, hook up both vacuum and fuel lines to petcock....Apply vacuum on vacuum line and see if fuel flows....and stops when vauum stops. If it passes that test it should be good to go, right?

yobomba wrote:

Wheelman-111 wrote:Apply vacuum on vacuum line and see if fuel flows....and stops when vauum stops. If it passes that test it should be good to go, right?

Correcto mundo!!

Clivester wrote:

yobomba wrote:

Wheelman-111 wrote:Apply vacuum on vacuum line and see if fuel flows....and stops when vauum stops. If it passes that test it should be good to go, right?

Correcto mundo!!

Well, I did the test I mentioned and it passed it......HOWEVER.......I rode it for about 15 minutes, parked it and it is still leaking a bit when it sits still. Doesn't run out....just drips out over flow tube.

I GIVE UP!!!!!!!

Greetings:

No need to give up. Faulty petcock seal and leaky float valve is a common Aero/Spree/Elite double-whammy. It makes sense that the conditions causing one to fail will also affect the other. The petcock sometimes sorts itself out with fresh fuel and/or a capful of Sea Foam, in my direct observation. The Float Needle does not. I had to replace one with a brand-new Honda one despite the fact that my old one looked fine. Polish up the needle seat in the carb body and bite the (expensive) bullet for a new valve needle and the problem will be solved, even if the petcock isn't completely fuel-tight.

Wheelman-111 wrote:Greetings:

No need to give up. Faulty petcock seal and leaky float valve is a common Aero/Spree/Elite double-whammy. It makes sense that the conditions causing one to fail will also affect the other. The petcock sometimes sorts itself out with fresh fuel and/or a capful of Sea Foam, in my direct observation. The Float Needle does not. I had to replace one with a brand-new Honda one despite the fact that my old one looked fine. Polish up the needle seat in the carb body and bite the (expensive) bullet for a new valve needle and the problem will be solved, even if the petcock isn't completely fuel-tight.

I have already replaced the needle seat......did that first. I'm clueless as to what to do next other than buy a new petcock! I've polished the float seat, installed new valve needle, cleaned petcock and tested out right......frustrated! I just want the leak to stop!