Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Just bought an 85 spree. Can't get it to start. Change the plug and I have spark, cleaned the carb and I have fuel and it seems to have plenty of compression (although I haven't tested it) what am I missing? I give it a blast of starting fluid and I can't get it to start. It's turning over fine and it sounds like it should fire up but it doesn't. I know the choke is shot but it's 100 degrees here and it shouldn't matter, should it? especially with the starting fluid. Any help would be great - i really wanna ride!

Sounds like you should at least get a few chugs. Compression could be the culprit since the consensus is that it needs to be at least 90psi for ignition. The engine will still "cluck" at a lower psi.

Dude, where'd you get a Spree in Austin? I've been on the lookout for awhile but have had no luck...

open drain screw on carb and see if gas keeps coming out after it should have stopped when carb was drained. I f gas keeps coming out then petcock is stuck open and your carb is flooding out.

I got lucky and and scored it on craigslist but if it needs a ring job then I'm not feeling so lucky. I don't think it's flooding because when I take off the fuel line it stops as soon as the line drains. The person that sold it to me seemed real honest, was the only owner and even had the title. She told me that if I used a little starter fluid it would start up and as long as I ran it everyday it would continue to start. I still haven't gotten it to start in 2 weeks. The choke fell apart when I took it out-any idea where I can get one here in Austin and any other suggestions on starting this very frustrating little machine? Somebody parked one next to me downtown the other night and my lovely wife pointed out that it was just like mine, ONLY RUNNING! Thanks.

Dont feel so bad, I put a new (ebay) motor on mine about a month after I bought it. It needed a new cylinder and piston. The ebay motor was cheaper.

You did get lucky on craigslist...oh, I've been looking. TO NO AVAIL! Hope this isn't too tacky...but PM me if you're interested in off-loading that spree.

Anyway, back to your problem...given your description, I'm suprised to hear you're not getting anything with the starter fluid. What do you mean by "the choke is shot"?

A quesiton regarding hondaman's comment: If your petcock is stuck open, why would it flood if the float/needle aparatus is working? If the carb fills up...won't the needle just close? Very curious to hear yours or others' thoughts.

When I say the choke is shot I mean that when I took it off to clean the carb it fell apart in my hand. But it should have started before I took the carb off. When I took it apart it wasn't all that dirty and all jets seemed clear. How much do I need the choke in 100 degree heat anyway?

Yeah, choke shouldn't keep you from getting something out of it. I've pulled the bystarter and run it before with my finger over the hole.

Back to the spark...is it possible that the spark is too weak to ignite the mixture?

Not sure what that would mean...worn points, bad coil, cabling, etc???

2strokerAce wrote:Yeah, choke shouldn't keep you from getting something out of it. I've pulled the bystarter and run it before with my finger over the hole.

Back to the spark...is it possible that the spark is too weak to ignite the mixture?

Not sure what that would mean...worn points, bad coil, cabling, etc???

no, if there is some spark it will start. or atleast try to with the slightest spark.

Sorry to say but it sounds like compression is the culprit.
Pop the top and take a look at the rings and cylinder wall.
Mines in getting bored as we speak.