Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

I got my spree running a few weeks ago and it has been running decently, but with a few problems. First off it didn't idle (tried the idle screw and did nothing) or go past 27mph down hill, but it still was reliable. It wasn't running rich or lean and the compression was about 105psi, and a new air-filter as well. Last week however it has slowly been going downhill to the point where I can't ride it. I let it warm up about 5 minutes and then take off, at first I could hit 25mph whether uphill downhill or flatland (occationally went to about 27mph downhill). Then the next week it went it started to bog once I hit 25mph and it started to lose power then get it back then lose it and so forth. And today on my way to work it started to really bog and couldn't maintain anything over 20mph. I managed to get it home and I did a plug chop to find it running a bit lean, so I adjusted it and it still runs lean. I tighten it all the way and its still lean (and just to clarify I wasn't adjusting the idle screw, it was the correct one according to the manual.). And I tried adjusting a few more times and it started soft seizing and so I stopped. Any suggestions on what to try next? I'm at a loss. And I don't know if it makes a difference but I ride WOT most of the time because thats the only way I could get it to 25mph, and I have quite a few hills around my house.

Compression is low. Recheck and report back.

First off Honda says 114 PSI for compression minimum, so now you know why it is a weak sister.

It sounds like you leaned it out and have soft seized the motor. Do another compression test. Then put about a 1/2 a teaspoon of oil in the cylinder and do another compression test. If it jumps way up the piston and cylinder are hurt.

Ok so I put some oil in the cylinder and the compression jumped up to 125psi. I did several compression tests and they settled on 117psi and it hasn't gone down from that. So now what do I do?

Run it and burn that oil out of there and retest it. If it is back down to 105 it is marginal.

Ok I'll let you know what happens. I'm still not sure how I can adjust the jet so it's not as lean, is it the tighter in the screw goes the more lean or more rich?

It is an air screw and adjusts air flow. So in is richer and out is leaner, but that doesn't really matter. You set that screw for the HIGHEST RPM possible. Then you adjust idle speed with the idle stop screw.

Ok so burned off all the oil in the cylinder and I get compresson around 110-115. My first reading of 105 I don't think I was kicking the kick start enough. And when I was adjusting the jet earlier today I got to the point where I had the screw almost all the way in and it still ran lean and started soft seizing on me, it is the screw to the bottom left of the idle screw right (one with the spring)?

alemeno wrote:Ok so burned off all the oil in the cylinder and I get compresson around 110-115. My first reading of 105 I don't think I was kicking the kick start enough. And when I was adjusting the jet earlier today I got to the point where I had the screw almost all the way in and it still ran lean and started soft seizing on me, it is the screw to the bottom left of the idle screw right (one with the spring)?

Well, 115 I right at the minimum but acceptable. When you do the compression test, you are holding the throttle at WOT aren't you?

I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

alemeno wrote:I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

Yes you hold it wide open while doing compression test.

toad772 wrote:

alemeno wrote:I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

Yes you hold it wide open while doing compression test.

Wow Toad do like Modern warfare? off subject but.............

KingJeff801 wrote:

toad772 wrote:

alemeno wrote:I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

Yes you hold it wide open while doing compression test.

Wow Toad do like Modern warfare? off subject but.............

My favorite game.

toad772 wrote:

alemeno wrote:I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

Yes you hold it wide open while doing compression test.

Oh didn't know that. I retested it with WOT and I get a reading of 125-130psi.

alemeno wrote:

toad772 wrote:

alemeno wrote:I didn't touch the throttle during the test, are you supposed to?

Yes you hold it wide open while doing compression test.

Oh didn't know that. I retested it with WOT and I get a reading of 125-130psi.

Then it is pretty safe to say it isn't your compression.