Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

I recently took my spree to the local shop to get it looked at because it sat for 10 months while i was in australia. The shop later calls me telling me that the carb is messed up and needs replacing. I give the go ahead and then a week later they say its something to do with the choke. A week after that they come to the conclusion that they dont want to work on it anymore and they couldnt get it running. I know the shop and I know they are good. They said it might be something to do with the crankshaft or the piston. So I was thinking about replacing the piston with the new bore kit on ebay but i am not sure on what I have to do with the carb. Or if it would be better to just get a new engine and if I go that route should I upgrade it to a better engine. I am just not really sure where i should take this. Any help would be awesome!

They didnt clean the carb? This shop sounds bad. There are some Californians on this board who know how to wrench.

They did take apart the carb and cleaned it out put it back together.

They wanted to replace it instead of diagnosing it/rebuilding? You must be dealing with younger mechs who dont know anything but "swap parts till it works".

Kenny_McCormic wrote:They wanted to replace it instead of diagnosing it/rebuilding? You must be dealing with younger mechs who dont know anything but "swap parts till it works".

Agreed.

If the bike ran before it sat for ten months, the chances it's NOT carb gunk, tank slime or fuel system crud - are slim to none. And what evidence is there the 'swapped' carb was problem free as well?

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is incompetent/dishonest mechanics. They're a BLIGHT on the planet and should be run out of town on a rail.

CaptDan>

well the problem with the carb was settled and fixed then became something "deeper" in the engine. they are thinking maybe its the pistons and/or crankshaft. I am just kinda bummed that I need to try to figure it out myself.

zapwalker wrote:well the problem with the carb was settled and fixed then became something "deeper" in the engine. they are thinking maybe its the pistons and/or crankshaft. I am just kinda bummed that I need to try to figure it out myself.

Probably not as bummed as you're going to be if you keep dealing with those quislings. You'll end up with a big bill and an in-op bike.

If it were me, I'd cash out of the poker game now, bring the bike home and start trouble shooting. Things to check:

Fuel flow, carb, ByPharter(tm), fuel valve, spark, electrical. Rent a compression tester and test compression. That will tell you right away if there's something 'deeper' in the engine.

Ask for help here; this group is filled with the brightest minds in 2-smoke Spree-dom. Download the service manual and become acquainted with your bikes' 'guts.' Even if you fail to fix the problem, you'll be smarter and better equipped to communicate with a shop (hopefully NOT the one you're dealing with now) or mechanic.

That's what I think. YMMV. Keep us posted.

CaptDan>

Greetings:

Unless you are completely tool-less, consider heeding the Captain, for wise is he. For instance, he uses the word "quisling".

I would add that you can purchase a good-enough compression tester for under $10 at Harbor Freight. Fifteen for a better one... Also the fuel strainer upstream of the valve could be all of it.

Post up what you have in your tool kit and Knowledge Bank, but if I can rebuild Flashes I and II with my rock-and-pointy-stick tool box, so can you. It can be intimidating, but remember that you can physically carry the entire bike upstairs to work in the privacy of your bathroom.

I'm with Dan: It's still the carb. The labor involved in cleaning one is not cost-effective for shops to perform. Easiest carb in the world to dismantle and a week's soak in Gunk or Napa Carb cleaner fixes whatever ails it.

I live just outside los Angeles if you need help i have no problem helping I own 11 sprees and have repaired just about everything possible on the little buggers

Thanks dude, I will definitely let you know right now I need to get it running and I am completely out of a ride. I will let you know whats up.

I will be getting my socket set back from my buddy either today or the next. I will post photos of what I find so that I dont mess anything up or miss anything unusual. Also I am looking to replace the stock piston and head with a big bore kit. I know that I will need to work on the carb, I have heard that I could put an elite carb on instead so that I can get the flow needed. Any information on that would be awesome and incredibly useful.

ok here is the deal. I can get it cranking and starting with some of that starter fluid stuff. but then it cuts out. so i am guessing its not getting any fuel. any other ideas???

It is probably one of two things. Your carb is probably gummed up inside from stale old gas or your petcock, also known as the vacuume valve, is closed shut and will not open. I am sure those inept mechanics did not do a good job of checking either one out. If you did not drain the gas from the carburetor and the tank before you stored it away it is a sure bet that your carb and vacuume valve are all gummed up.

That shop has no clue what they're doing.

but they completely replaced the carb. I will take it apart and check it out again though. What would be the other thing.

The vacuume valve. There are two hoses which lead to your carburetor. One is the fuel line and the other is the vacuume line.
If you disconnect both hoses from the carb and suck on the vacuume line, gas should come out of the fuel line. If it does not than your vacuume valve is stuck closed. You can try soaking it in gasoline overnight and see if it frees up. Otherwise you may have to get a new one.