85 Spree two problems

bkitchen1015 · Post by **bkitchen1015** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:35 pm

I have an 85 Spree with two different problems. The first is that it does not like to idle very much. Once I start it, it will run well for about 30 seconds then it starts to die. If I give it just a little throttle it stays running but its not exactly idling. I have cleaned the carb a dozen times and it hasn't made a difference. Am I supposed to be able to see light through the smaller idle jet? I have tried to spray carb cleaner through it and I think some gets through but If I try to look down it I see no light, is something probably stuck? If so how can I get it out? The second problem is that at speed sometimes it will bog down. If I am cruising with the throttle all the way open she may run great, then I will hit a little bump and suddenly it loses power and I have to let off the throttle to about half power then she will come back up. Its never consistent in this problem and it can even happen if I dont hit a bump although its more likely to happen if I do. It doesnt always let me come back up to full power either, sometimes it wont let me get past half power but if I shut it off and wait a half hour it runs fine again. I actually have a third issue thats not really a problem but may help someone figure out what my problem is. When I first start it, I have to be on a decline so I can run down the hill and get speed. If I dont then it will barely put any power to to the wheels before it dies. Once it gets up to 10 mph or so it has great power but until I do it that once when it first starts I'm going nowhere.

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:52 pm

bkitchen1015 wrote:I have an 85 Spree with two different problems. The first is that it does not like to idle very much. Once I start it, it will run well for about 30 seconds then it starts to die. If I give it just a little throttle it stays running but its not exactly idling. I have cleaned the carb a dozen times and it hasn't made a difference. Am I supposed to be able to see light through the smaller idle jet? Yes, but you need a very bright light like a LED flashligh and a dark room, hole is he size of a pin tip. I have tried to spray carb cleaner through it and I think some gets through but If I try to look down it I see no light, is something probably stuck? If so how can I get it out? DO NOT ATTEMPT REMOVAL The second problem is that at speed sometimes it will bog down. If I am cruising with the throttle all the way open she may run great, then I will hit a little bump and suddenly it loses power and I have to let off the throttle to about half power then she will come back up. Its never consistent in this problem and it can even happen if I dont hit a bump although its more likely to happen if I do. It doesnt always let me come back up to full power either, sometimes it wont let me get past half power but if I shut it off and wait a half hour it runs fine again. Do a plug chop. I actually have a third issue thats not really a problem but may help someone figure out what my problem is. When I first start it, I have to be on a decline so I can run down the hill and get speed. If I dont then it will barely put any power to to the wheels before it dies. Once it gets up to 10 mph or so it has great power but until I do it that once when it first starts I'm going nowhere. Thats called warm up.

Anson3 · Post by **Anson3** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:20 pm

Interesting but I have the same problems. As Kenny said, check the plug for condition. Mine will run at idle forever but once I crack the throttle it will bog and die. I have rebuilt (and reassembled) the carb several times just to verify settings and condition, have replaced the auto-bystarter (which I think is a fancy term for auto-choke), check the coil resistance, changed hoses, replaced the fuel valve all to no avail. I am beginning to think that the engine is just tired and not producing enough vacuum. The plug is always black and wet and I see no way of lowering the float level as the tang is plastic. UGH! Good luck, one of these items may be your problem... I may have a parts bike here soon.

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:25 pm

Anson3 wrote:Interesting but I have the same problems. As Kenny said, check the plug for condition. Mine will run at idle forever but once I crack the throttle it will bog and die. I have rebuilt (and reassembled) the carb several times just to verify settings and condition, have replaced the auto-bystarter (which I think is a fancy term for auto-choke), check the coil resistance, changed hoses, replaced the fuel valve all to no avail. I am beginning to think that the engine is just tired and not producing enough vacuum. The plug is always black and wet and I see no way of lowering the float level as the tang is plastic. UGH! Good luck, one of these items may be your problem... I may have a parts bike here soon.

Make sure you have a clean airfilter that is nice and airfilter like (thick sponge) and that the 2 ports on the air box lid are clean (run a q tip through them, you will not believe the buildup that can happen in there)

Anson3 · Post by **Anson3** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:20 pm

Yep, I did that and at one point ran it without the filter just to verify that it as not restricting. That I bought new as well by the way. Frustrated...!

bkitchen1015 · Post by **bkitchen1015** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:45 pm

I did a plug chop and it was a cocoa color. The carb is clean, I was able to see a little light through that hole. It has a few leaky gaskets so I am going to try and replace the gaskets as well as the piston rings. It looks like the head gasket has some oil/gas mix leaking from it. Once I replace those I'll update if it helped.

Kenny_McCormic · Post by **Kenny_McCormic** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:20 pm

bkitchen1015 wrote:I did a plug chop and it was a cocoa color. The carb is clean, I was able to see a little light through that hole. It has a few leaky gaskets so I am going to try and replace the gaskets as well as the piston rings. It looks like the head gasket has some oil/gas mix leaking from it. Once I replace those I'll update if it helped.

leaky intake gaskets=s*** performance.

floodgateus · Post by **floodgateus** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:51 pm

At least yours will start! I tore my 85 aprt looking for the problem,,no luck yet

bkitchen1015 · Post by **bkitchen1015** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:15 am

I replaced the crankcase, head and lower gaskets, piston rings, changed the oil and generally cleaned up the engine and now it runs great. Before my max speed was around 26, now the Spree can do about 30-31. It would seem the rebuild was a great idea. It still doesnt like to idle very much but it will do it now instead of dying like before.

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