Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Hi Friends!

My name is Jerome, I live in upstate NY and just purchased a Spree locally this past weekend(still have to check the year, but it has a kick start, so its later). I have owned a Tomos Targa Moped for about ten years and done my own maintenance for the last five. I am mechanically inclined, enjoy projects and learning new things. When the project is done the spree will primarily be ridden by my girlfriend. I look forward to contributing to the community.
I have been watching the local market for one in fair condition for a few months, this one came up on Craig's List $200 OBO, it looked pretty good in the pictures and sounded good on the phone, borrowed gradma's Honda CRV and drove 40 minutes to pick it up. It was a little rougher upon closer inspection, but still not too bad and only 1,576 miles. The owner said it was running until they took the carb off to clean it, then when they put it back on they could not get the throttle set right and every time they started it, it would be running way above idle. I ended up taking it off their hands for $75.

My goals are to get it in 100% mechanical working order, clean up the built up grunge and polish up the plastics.
Below are the photos once we got it back to the basement and the preliminary list of parts that I need/want to replace, I would like to pick up used where applicable. Let me know if you see something from the photos that should be taken care of too. I am sure I will have questions once I start to dig into the project!

Jerome

Parts List
Left brake lever & Pin - missing
Rear brake cable - missing
Rear left lens - broken
Rear Rack - bent
Battery - dead - will not charge
Rear Tire & Tube - tire is a off road one and tube has leak
Rims - present but rusty, would like used in better condition
Ignition & key - missing
Seat lock - present but no key
Replace vacuum lines - still original red ones
Replace fuel lines
Floor Mat (likely will make one)

More photos...

First of all welcome and nice score! That pic of the oil isn't likely a leak, I would say the oil tank was overfilled or cap left off.

From the looks of things you have an 86

welcome!! and good find, yes your turn signals are really bent, might want to put a rear rack on your list of needs, and i agree with martynkim looks like an 86

odinxxix wrote:welcome!! and good find, yes your turn signals are really bent, might want to put a rear rack on your list of needs, and i agree with martynkim looks like an 86

Yeah, those signals should be straight.

Welcome to the forum.

If they aren't rusted thru, try banging them back into shape with a rubber hammer.

If you need a leg shield, I have one for you cheap.

Thanks for the welcomes.
Thank you for the leg shield offer, I have all the plastics and they are in good condition save a few scrapes, I just have to read up on how to brighten them some.
I will try to bend the turn signals back out, I have no idea how they did that, there is only mild surface rust as expected.
Good news on the oil spill, I will wash out the foam.

What is my best plan for obtaining the parts I need, contact two of these people who are doing big part outs with my list and see who offers the best price?

Jerome

your small front plastic is upside down, you should just cut your turnsignals off it looks way better, and marty and kim is the man to talk to for parts great guy!

For shining up those faded plastics, I use caranuba car wax and good ol elbow grease.

Thanks for the upside down note... I just set the two pieces in place but not locked in to get the picture.
I think I will have to give the plastic a good wash in the laundry room sink then i will get the wax out!
After the holiday I will contact marty and kim about parts.

Jerome

fastplastic wrote:your small front plastic is upside down, you should just cut your turnsignals off it looks way better, and marty and kim is the man to talk to for parts great guy!

In most places any more, no turn signals means-ticket.

No worries. I plan to keep them, it's safer anyway.
Jerome

another reason to love Michigan lol

Started to do some work on the spree this weekend. Took all the plastics off except the front wheel cover and washed them down in the utility sink. When I get a chance they will be waxed up!

Today I went to work on it some and wanted to re assemble the carb, they PO said they cleaned it but I was skeptical so I disassembled and cleaned it up, I think it looks good now. I checked the service manual for the assembly scheme and it looks like I am missing the retaining piece for that gold pin. I received the carb in that red towel disassembled from the PO and the retainer was not in there. Lets play name that part, I think the two large bolts hold the carb back on to the body, the spring is for the throttle, the collar goes with the gold pin, then I am not sure where the little screw and the two other parts fit in.

I also took the exhaust off so that I can replace the rear tire, it sounds like there is a bunch of carbon built up in there, surprising since the odometer is only at 1500 miles, I noted some carbon build up on the outlet where the muffler bolts on to the cylinder head, I will read up on how to remove.

Lastly, I found that the front brake cable is there, but when you squeeze the handle it does not spring back. What could the issue be, a missing spring? How do I remedy, take the front wheel apart?

Jerome