Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Hi everyone!

I bought my wife a 85 Honda Spree about a month ago (1000 miles on it).

It was running great, but am noticing when you are travelling at a constant speed, it surges and sputters. It's quite annoying actually. It never used to do that.

It was running great when I first got it - we probably put 100 miles on it since we got it. I checked everything over, cleaned the air filter, changed the spark plug, proper oil - everything is to spec.

It accelerates great with no misbehaving of the engine - its just when you hit cruising speed its starts sputtering.

As far as any changes over the last few weeks - the temperatures were at around 22c (72F) when we first got it - but now its hovering around 32c (90F). Not sure if its running too hot. I am running the good gas, 91 octane.

Any suggestions? Thanks all!

Oh, and I should mention in case its related - it always has run rough when you first start it. Starts great, but kind of gutless until you run it for a minute or so.

I've heard it's best to stick 87 oct. Maybe the hot temp plus the higher oct making the engine run hotter might not be too good but I dunno I'm a noob with scooters.

runnning rough cold is ok, thats ur automatic choke working.

as for running rough at cruising speeds, if u run it for long periods, try a colder running plug.

Yes it is best to use cheap gas, don't know specific octane, but the cheap gas usually works best. I think it was explained a while ago that the lower octane is easier to burn, thats why higher compression engines need the harder to burn fuel so they don't detonate.

Okay! I'll try the lower octane.

Thanks!

Okay - I ran a couple of tanks of the 86 octane (or whatever the regular fuel is). It was still surging...

So I put in a BRP8HS spark plug for extended high-speed riding, gappped it, took it for a rip... still the same. I bit better, but still the same.

I was going to clean out the fuel filter/strainer, but found there wasn't a filter in there. The previous owner must have pulled it out, forgot it, who knows. According to the service manual, an 85 spree should have a strainer you can clean out with compressed air.

I didn't feel like ripping the carb completely apart, so I just cleaned it good with carb cleaner, while running.

I just took it for a 20 minute rip and it never missed a beat - until on the way home. It was hicupping a bit.

Is it possible to put an inline fuel filter on this thing? I doubt I will be able to find the proper fuel filter for it.

Try the second process for cleaning carb here, you wont have to take the carb apart.

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3

Any decent cycle shop will sell you a sintered-metal 3/8" inline filter. I'd get one.