Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Hey all.

My old (13,600 miles on the odo!) '86 Spree can't seem to start. I'll push the electric start and get a ch-ch-ch-ch but no engine turnover, or anything from the engine, for that matter. Am I just doing the kickstart procedure wrong? The Spree's my first introduction to things-with-two-wheels-and-engines, but I'm not so sure that there isn't a mechanical problem, as I've recently drained and replaced all of the fluids

Is it supposed to just start up if I push down the electric start (with brake lever depressed, leaving the throttle alone); or am I supposed to kickstart it with the electric start on, or... ?

The kick start and the electric start are two separate starting systems. You can start the bike with either one or the other, just as long as the key is on. Now when you say that the engine does nothing, you mean it won't turn over, as in, the engine doesn't move? The way you said it sounds like the engine may be seized.

killerpancake wrote:The kick start and the electric start are two separate starting systems. You can start the bike with either one or the other, just as long as the key is on. Now when you say that the engine does nothing, you mean it won't turn over, as in, the engine doesn't move? The way you said it sounds like the engine may be seized.

It won't turn over. I have a good spark and good compression, and before I did the cleanup (it'd spent a year in storage) the engine did start. It always sounds like it's about to start, regardless of how long I hold the electric down, but it never does.

i know you said you have good spark, but try changing the spark plug, they can get wet with gas, and dirty and never spark as well as they should. are you sure the carb is adjusted correctly? last question, is the air filter ON? and in good condition?

killerpancake wrote:i know you said you have good spark, but try changing the spark plug, they can get wet with gas, and dirty and never spark as well as they should. are you sure the carb is adjusted correctly? last question, is the air filter ON? and in good condition?

I'll try a new spark plug tomorrow.
As far as the carb, how do I adjust it? I took it apart for cleaning, but my knowledge of that went as far as "put everything back in the same order you found it".

Air filter's on, good and clean.

By "turn over" do you mean the engine does not crank or the engine does not start? Not turning over means the engine is frozen, not rotating and will not move.

Bear45-70 wrote:By "turn over" do you mean the engine does not crank or the engine does not start? Not turning over means the engine is frozen, not rotating and will not move.

I don't know what the difference is--how do I tell whether it cranks or not?

(e: I know that's a dumb question, but I'm learning)

If you can spin your cooling fan by hand then it's cranking
Simple as that

when you put back the adjustment screw it should be about 1 and 1/2 turns back from snug. i think, to know for sure, check it out on wikispreedia.

jrmints wrote:

Bear45-70 wrote:By "turn over" do you mean the engine does not crank or the engine does not start? Not turning over means the engine is frozen, not rotating and will not move.

I don't know what the difference is--how do I tell whether it cranks or not?

(e: I know that's a dumb question, but I'm learning)

When you use the kick start, can someone on the other side see the fan rotate?

The difference is that in one, the piston does not gi up and down in the cylinder (no compression), it stays in place. In the other, the piston is going up and down as it should, your engine is just not "popping' off, there is no ignition of the mixture to the extent of causing a running engine.

Petrock's 1984 Spree wrote:If you can spin your cooling fan by hand then it's cranking
Simple as that

If I spin the fan that goes to the alternator, I do get a sort of blubby sound that I'd hear from a lawnmower being started. So I guess it is cranking?

I'll try to get the relevant photos/probably an audio recording of what's happening when I get out of class today.

saying " It always sounds like it's about to start" makes me think your carb is adjusted wrong. does it sputter or smoke at all?

Oh thank goodness, I've finally taken a videoclip of the sounds it makes when I'm trying to start it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9MyTkm ... ideo_title

Here's a shot of the carburetor, in case there's something weird about the way I reassembled it:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff28 ... C11434.jpg

jrmints wrote:Oh thank goodness, I've finally taken a videoclip of the sounds it makes when I'm trying to start it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9MyTkm ... ideo_title

Here's a shot of the carburetor, in case there's something weird about the way I reassembled it:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff28 ... C11434.jpg

The intake hose between the airbox and the carb is leaking, there is no way * like that it is not leaking.

Bear45-70 wrote:

jrmints wrote:Oh thank goodness, I've finally taken a videoclip of the sounds it makes when I'm trying to start it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9MyTkm ... ideo_title

Here's a shot of the carburetor, in case there's something weird about the way I reassembled it:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff28 ... C11434.jpg

The intake hose between the airbox and the carb is leaking, there is no way * like that it is not leaking.

I went and adjusted this, and it's no longer *. Tried to start it, still no change.