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Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:02 pm
by Ricerider
For Christmas last year the girlfriend and I got her 8yr old daughter a electric dirt bike. She is ready for the next thing, i will be getting her a xr100 next year but need something to get her by until then.
I spot a busted down spree in corner of my garage and go to work. Motor is froze up, sounds like gravel in the bottom end. Broke it loose and by miracle got it running. :shock: pb blaster helped to free up the crank bearings and its a bit noisy but runs just fine.

I will be moving the gas tank to the rear and dropping the seat and handle bars for her. This machine will just be a rat rod to beat around until the xr100 comes.
I need the machine to go 15mph max but not be such a dog off the line. I will shim the front clutch and remove some metal from the rear pully to help gear it down, but what else can i do?

Does anyone make a gearset to make the spree actually go slower on the top end but take off better?

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:19 pm
by Ricerider
Here is her on the electric, the battery runs out in 40 mins and takes 8hrs to charge

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:08 am
by deuce217
I doubt that there is a gear set for making a spree go slower than they do stock. A homemade throttle stop would probably be your best/ most economic option.

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:11 am
by Ricerider
Amen on the throttle stop, I would like the machine to go thru some dirt without bogging out. The spree wont hack in it in any type of sand or dirt without a geardown. I have an extra block so I am thinking about cutting it to fit a gy6 clutch sheve which will hopefully help.

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:22 pm
by Trafficjamz
http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... 16&t=16892

heres how i did it. A washer in the exhaust and a down jet.

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:26 pm
by Wheelman-111
Greetings:

My Japan-spec DJ-1 had 8" rims that bolted to the standard AF05 Variated block. Maybe such rims exist that fit the Spree? Solves your gearing issue and lowers top speed, a little.

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:28 pm
by Ricerider
I also considered a piece of brake line in between the throttle slide and the top that screws on top the carb to limit the slide pull.

Here is my near death experience with a spree today:
I re-wired the machine for kick-start only, and just the basics. No lights, blinkers etc. Got rid of the entire wire harness and all new wiring for just the basics.
stator is wired directly to cdi, voltage regulator is only used for the electric choke, 1 wire running up handle bar for kill switch....

I decide to fire the machine before making all connections permanent. Give it three kicks and it wont start :?
At this point the throttle cable is not attached to the twist grip, just a cable hanging there. So I grab the handle bar with one hand,
pull on the throttle cable with the other hand and give it a kick. The machine starts, and I am stuck to it, 70vdc running thru my body.
I can barely hear anything but realize this is really bad, i try to let go but cant, no muscle movement. After a few seconds my muscles
loose grip and i fall too the ground glad to be alive. 4 hrs later I am still shaken up by it :nervous: , call me a whimp but I will NEVER forget to hook up and engine ground again

Because I didnt hook up the main green wire from the starter to the frame (frame is where my cdi gets ground from) I was the ground connection
From the frame to the engine. The cdi box was pulling its voltage thru me the spark the coil. throttle cable being in my hand is the engine ground, hand on handle bar frame ground

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:32 pm
by Ricerider
So far...

Re: Lower gearing for honda spree

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 10:48 am
by Wheelman-111
Greetings:

Great story! Sounds like something I would've done. Glad you're OK, but if you still feel bad tomorrow or see very dark urine anytime, pay a visit to your friendly family fizzician and get checked out.