Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Issue is that the spree with electric start will fire up weakly then die. Electric Start will not work to turn over so kickstart is then used. After a few fire ups and dies it will run and stay running. If you shut it off once running then the electric start will again work and fire it right up. This happens if I fire it up after a day of sitting. My thought was maybe the carb bown was somehow emptying but not sure how this could occur. Could petcock be issue?

Sounds like the starting issue is your battery is weak. Before you try to start the engine, what is the voltage reading? Anything less 12.6 or 12.7 volts means a weak battery.

The carb issue is that these things are cold blooded and once the start you can not touch the throttle, or they die. Also after it is warmed up you need to set the idle mixture and idle speed.

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... ts_-_Spree

Idle speed I always set to just to where the rear wheel will not rotate. Of course this is with a warm engine and the scooter on the center stand.

I guess I should have phrased the 1st part of my question better. It will fire right up with electric start when I first try, it runs rough and weak for a few secs and then dies. After that point, elec start will not fire it up but the kickstart will. After that point, you can shut it down and elec start will fire it up again

A battery that won't crank the engine a second, third or fourth time is a weak battery at best.

As to the other issue, I addressed that. If that does not cure the problem. The pull the carb and start cleaning.

Carb cleaning instructions here.

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... r_Cleaning

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... ture_Guide

http://hondaspree.net/wiki/index.php5?t ... Valve_Seat

Well, battery measured 12.82 so that seems to be within range. I appriciate the info Bear. The question that still stumps me is why the scooter will start up and run no problem after I do finally get it started, then after it sits for a day, it is hard to start again. If it were a carb issue why would it run like a champ it does finally start running?

Ok, when cranking the starter, what does the voltage drop too? If it is below 10.5 volts then the battery is bad. If it doesn't, then you need to check the voltage at the starter when cranking (no one said theis would be easy). If it is within a a 1/2 volt of the previous reading then the starter is bad.

I shall have to try that tomorrow morning, but I still am confused as to why the scoot runs fine after it does get started and will continue to start fine until it sits for a day...

That is usually caused by 1 or 2 things. Either the the carb float bowl drain is leaking and the float bowl is empty or the petcock and needle and seat leak and the carb is flooding the engine. To check, before you try to start the engine after the scooter has sat for a couple of days, open the float bowl drain and see if fuel runs out. If it does you need to check the petcock for leakage.

Hmmm.Well I have tried the things mentioned in the thread and still the same issue. (Replaced petcock with one that was not a leaker, checked for leaking carb bowl, battery, replaced float and needle) I have to crank it a dozen or so time with the kickstart to get it running if it has sat for a few hours. Once it starts running, and i shut it down, it will start right back up with either kickstart or electric start again and again. If I let it sit for an hour or two then I have to crank it a dozen times or so again and then the cycle repeats. It seems like the engine is flooding when it sits yet I am at a loss for why...

It sounds more like the float bowl is going dry.

Try this, drain the float bowl and see if it will start right up again after sitting for about an hour.

No dice. Drained the bowl, hour later attempted to start up, same behavior.

Tried the technique of cleaning the float needle seat and making sure it was seated appropriately. Still no luck. Starting to pull my hair out. Anyone have any ideas on what this could possibly be other than what was already tried? Thanks!

Well finally! Looks like the air filter element was bone dry. Cleaned and oiled it. Also, the tube on the carb bowl drain was actually clogged up. Well, needless to say it runs just fine now! Yea!!!