Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

ok. i have problems. i just finished a complete engine rebuild on my 86 honda spree engine. this is what i did to it. dished piston, shaved 85 head, cleaned up the exhaust port on the cylinder, ported the intake, inner pully mod, stock carb with a 68 jet, custom high-flowin 85 exhaust. the darn thing wont stay running? i have to smother the carb with my hand just to get it started AND to keep it runnin!! why is that?? i have the EXACT same thing with my elite sa50 engine too!!! *? when i smother it, that fricken engine revs, and looks like the rear tire is going to take off! if i can get it on the street and try to choke the carb at the same time, this thing is going to be Fast! if anyone has any ideas.....please let me know. thanks.

Perhaps you need a bigger main jet.

smother the carb, youd have to have the air box off to do that right? do you have the stock air box on?

Thats right, that can be a problem, to much air entering thus not enough fuel to compsate thus the bike runs like crap.

well, i put the air cleaner on and doesnt do a darn thing. im just confused cause i never ran into a problem like this. this is what i was thinkin about doin to the engine now. any of u out there let me know if this will work. first thing i was going to do is put in a monster a** jet to make up for the extra air its gettin. second thing was to elimanate the fuel valve under the gas tank, and replace it with a peacock type/ shut off valve. my gyro has one. wouldnt this type of valve always give the carb constant fuel? any of u out there let me know. thanks!

Sounds to me like the idle circuit is plugged, and/or you don't have the proper aircleaner in place. Make sure you can get carb cleaner through the idle jet.

The other stuff you're discussing won't help... I assume that there's gas in the bowl of the carb? If so, the petcock isn't the problem right now. Jetting doesn't matter until you get it running, then only at open throttle conditions.

now you say the idle circuit? where is that? you dont mean the main jet do you? its gettin gas to the bowl of the carb. i took it out again today, and slowly got it goin on the street. with me smothering the carb and driving it i got it to 36mph. i was surpized that it went that fast for the problem ive havin. i put an air cleaner on it and even soaked it in oil, still dont do anything?? it seems like i really have to restrict the air flow, and then i think would loose power. im tring my best here. keep the info comin in please.

You say you put an air cleaner on. Is it the stock cleaner? Sprees do not like anything else without radical jetting. Make sure you have a stock air cleaner and make sure the top cover fits and seals properly. Once you get it started and running properly (after break in) you can experiment with air horns, filters, and jetting.

I feel your pain. It all comes back to the basics. If you have sucess in restricting the air flow, what you are doing is making the mixture richer. Remove your hand and you go lean.

Ergo, you have a carb issue, wherein the mixture is now way too lean to even combust. If you did all the mods you say, you need to step up the main jet.

See http://m.1asphost.com/spreerepairing/speed.htm where Noiseguy recommends a #70 main jet.

Hope this helps.