Restoring a 1988 Spree

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:41 am

Have just put a new starter motor in, but still getting no joy. Engine turns over approx 5 times, then on the 6th makes a different sound and repeats the cycle ad nauseum.
I have fuel, air and spark, but the mongrel wont start? Any ideas?

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 4:04 pm

PS I have also cut the oil off while I try to get starting action as it glugs up the chamber too fast.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:49 am

Gave the plug some blowtorch love and it lives!!!!

Oh the joy of it all

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 5:09 am

Since the last post I had the wee beauty running like a dream and took up the hobby of riding around in the local riverbed(may have some pics up somewhere)
All was well in Hoon land until the point at which the rear shock mounts to on the engine casing snapped-this being a one piece unit integrating the head (%^&**) and all the left hand side engine bits, I was up the creek with no paddle. After carrying it for 3 miles and hauling it back home, I sourced a new chunk of metal to replace the two bits I currently have.
Having just got home from Afghanistan two days ago, I've been off the tools and am a bit worried about :

a) not remembering how stuff goes together and thus 5 mins jobs will end up taking hours. This will not go down well with the wife and small son

b) doing more damage than help trying to repair things I should have the proper tools for but dont

c) Leaving crucial parts out, or not knowing what bits in the guts of the engine should look like

All this leads me to conclude I might be better off dropping the engine into a local bike shop I trust and telling them to replace the broken bit, replace the bearing and just generally service/replace and old and/or buggered gear. They will have all the specialist tools and know how and will knock the whole job out in bugger all time.
Also, I figure after a professional rebuild like that, I'll never have to touch any of the internals again.

Any thoughts folks? And thanks for giving me a place to ramble:)

Wheelman-111 · Post by **Wheelman-111** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:23 pm

Greetings:

First off, welcome Home, and bless you for your Service. Glad you made it back safely to address the important things. Like Sprees. Oh, yeah and the wife and son...

a) Having it done at a shop is no guarantee that it'll be done better than you could do it. It only guarantees that you won't get into trouble with the Missus, and have more knee-time with the kiddo. Remember shop charges can run ~$100 an hour.

b) Welding your cast-aluminum case is a tricky, risky proposition. Sprees are not designed for any kind of off-roading, ever. (Though I've no doubt many do venture as you did.) Two inches of suspension travel doesn't lend itself well to Whoop-de-doos. A broken case/shock mount is likely to be a Fatal Flaw - It's not clear what you meant by

I sourced a new chunk of metal to replace the two bits I currently have.

If that means you have a new case, then see item "c)".

c) The Service manual can be downloaded - even printed - from the Technical section. The parts are all listed in diagram form. If you take your time, I have no doubt you could do this. But see item "b)" You may be better off dropping in a used block, or sourcing an SE/05 or (if you're lucky...) an SA16 block.

No matter which route you choose,

Also, I figure after a professional rebuild like that, I'll never have to touch any of the internals again.

Uhhh, NOT!

We both know that chances are you'll be back riding that same riverbed... and sooner or later all things mechanical wear out. Heck I tear mine apart every other week for no reason!

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:32 pm

Speaking with the local Honda shop this morning, it looks like I'd be up for $4-600 NZD (approx US $2-300), and they mentioned some of the parts may be getting a bit rare. I've got faith they'll do it to a high standard as I've dealt with the workshop manager many times over the years and he's always done right by me.
I am starting to think maybe a whole new motor (as in used motor) may be the cheaper option, though of course then I'm going in blind on the tuning/possible problems with it- no different to when I picked up the original bike

Spreetard · Post by **Spreetard** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:41 pm

i want the headstock from the nifty fifty, with some eve smile rear plastics. about how much can you find a used headstock for over there???

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 3:37 am

Looking back at the first pictures I noticed that someone has rotated the cylinder head 90 degrees on the cylinder. It doesn't hurt the running of the engine, but with the shroud installed it will screw up cooling air flow and hurt then engine with an overheat.

I have no idea what headstock is. Picture please.

Spreetard · Post by **Spreetard** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:31 am

Bear45-70 wrote: I have no idea what headstock is. Picture please.

there's gotta be a better word for it... the whole round headlight assembly ...

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:33 pm

Spreetard: I'll have a look around and see if I can get prices and an email to you after the weekend

Bear- Thats what I thought with the facts the fans at one side and the fins running perpendicular to it. If I remember right (its too early to nip out and check) the head hasto be that way round for the exhaust header to line up right

Bear45-70 · Post by **Bear45-70** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 1:48 pm

Storm wrote:Spreetard: I'll have a look around and see if I can get prices and an email to you after the weekend

Bear- Thats what I thought with the facts the fans at one side and the fins running perpendicular to it. If I remember right (its too early to nip out and check) the head hasto be that way round for the exhaust header to line up right

The cylinder (AKA, the JUG) (ugly fined black thing) has the exhaust flange on it and it has to face one way only so that the intake ports line up with the crankcase too. The cylinder head is aluminum thing (light colored) on the top of the cylinder. They are sperate pieces. The fins on the head are suppose to run side to side, not front to back.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:05 pm

Thanks for enlightening me. I was always puzzled by that.

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:59 am

Havent been able to do any work this week as have had a funeral on the other side of the country and a wedding this weekend, and the day I did get at home, my son was crook and home from daycare. Got big hopes for next week

Spreetard :Re the headlight assembly, do you mean the plastic bits, or the whole show with brackets etc? Also are you after one with a round headlight or a square headlight?

Spreetard · Post by **Spreetard** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:29 pm

Storm wrote:Spreetard :Re the headlight assembly, do you mean the plastic bits, or the whole show with brackets etc? Also are you after one with a round headlight or a square headlight?

i likley need only the plastic bits, it'll prolly bolt up to my handlebars, if not, i'll fabricate.
and the round headlight is the one in question. we only got square ones on this side of the pond.

my dream spree would have the round headlight, plus the japan "eve smile" rear side panels. and a dio (the only part of the combo i have)
i want to be unique

Storm · Post by **Storm** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:23 pm

Spreetard :A top and bottom round headlight pastic assembly is NZ $50 (US $ 36) No lights at the time I checked

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