Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

OK, the spot on the flat part of the top of my carb, is just an empty hole, can someone look at this picture and tell me what I'm missing? Should my 1983 Aero 50 have this part? The scooter runs fine without whatever it is....

That's the bystarter (automatic electric choke). Not having one in there creates a massive air leak which will cause you to run extremely lean.

-aseigler

Thats the bystarter. It functions like an electric choke.

While we are on this subject, how tight is the bystarter supposed to fit on the carb? The one on my Spree is a bit loose and I can't get it to tighten up.

So what does it do? Where do those wires go? where can I get one?

Thats the auto choke unit, unless somebody plugged up all the holes you bike shouldn't run right (probably lean/rich). In any situation your probably letting unfiltered air in the engine.

Lets just say I plug it with a short bolt with the same thread pattern as opposed to paying the $46 and 2 week wait the honda shop wants me to pay and wait.... What exactly does it do? If I stopped unfiltered air from entering, would that be enough of a choke?

No, no no, if you plugged it all off the bike would either be a b**** to start or run like total s*** warmed up. buy a new one, its the only way.

You'd have to plug the hole as well as the tube that the bystarter needle closes when the bystarter warms up. A bolt won't work, there are no threads in there. If you take the carb apart, you'll be able to see alot more clearly what the bystarter does. When it warms up, the needle moves down, plugging that tube and producing a leaner mixture. If the bystarter hole is plugged, you essentially will get a super rich mixture all the time. If the hole is wide open like you have it now, you will run waaaaay too lean.

-aseigler

So I put a tube with a good little air filter, and find a happy medium, so I don't have to put another $40 into it yet?

I don't think it will work very well. It sucks, but without that part, you aren't looking at good things. Many things you might try to plug the hole will ruin the carb. You may be able to come up with something though.

-aseigler

Only real afro engineer option is to fill the whole thing in with jb weld, but the bike will be impossible to start. It seems you don't really understand so take the advice from somebody that does and just buy one.

"It seems you don't really understand so take the advice from somebody that does and just buy one." Wow. I love how friendly some people on here are! I've owned 2 trail 70's, and 3 1983 70 ATC's, and I've NEVER had one of these on any of them. My scooter starts, and sounds like its running fine. I'm just looking for alternatives to dumping $50 into my $75 scooter.... Geez!

no offense, but two different people both with a ton of knowledge and posts advised strongly against it, both said it would cause big engine problems they tried to explain and you were still fighting the advice. i don't think it was meant to be unfriendly i just think it was trying to get you to listen. just my $.02

Find one on eBay. Good luck, they go missing and get snapped up quick. You have to understand the market these things were designed for. Non-technical people, the type who prefer fuel injection because they don't understand how carbs work and don't know what choke is. Without the beast on there, you are running lean. If you successfully plug the hole so that wind is not being sucked in there, you'll run rich (choke stuck on). If you also plug the choke completely, you'll have a hard time starting, but you will be able to run ok. You could also figure a way to manufacture a manual choke. If you could build such an animal that fit in the stock carb hole and bolted in just like the auto bystarter, then I'm sure you could also manufacture bolt on replacement manual petcocks and make a killing on eBay. I'd be first in line taking 2 of each, please.

Thanks,

-aseigler