Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Just picked up an 86 spree that is in pretty good shape, 1900 miles. It has been sitting for 3 years without being run. I got it running (exhaust tip was plugged with mud or mudd bee stuff), it actually seems to run good. I took it out for a spin and noticed a couple things, not sure if they are related.

1. When taking off it * and stutters and is sluggish but once it gets past that it takes off. Seems like a drivetrain issue. I took the clutch cover off and it was filthy full of belt and clutch dust. There seemed to be plenty of clutch pad on the rear clutch. The belt was all in tact but it probably has never been changed. After I did this and put it all together it got better but after driving it for about 5 minutes it started to get really sluggish again when taking off so I put it away.

2. When I hit about 20 mph I can hear a "whining" noise that starts up and doesn't go away until I come to a stop. If I keep trying to speed up it feels like something is grabbing and trying to slow me down. After I cleaned the clutches the noise got a little better but it still was there.


When I say cleaned clutches all I did is take the rear clutch outter off and then I sprayed everything down with brake cleaner. No lubrication was used.

Any suggestions?

Could this be as simple as a worn belt?

Greetings:

I hesitated to respond as nobody knows less about Sprees than I do. But yes, I think a new belt might provide a cure.

Just put an order in for a new Honda belt.

I wonder if one of the brakes are sticking creating the noise? Is this possible?

mopar4u wrote:Just put an order in for a new Honda belt.

I wonder if one of the brakes are sticking creating the noise? Is this possible?

You should cancel the stock belt and go buy an SAE cogged belt which is 1/2" X 24". It is a cheap speed secret and will give you some extra MPH. Part number for the is AX-24 which pretty much applies to all manufacturers.

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... ree#p61198

Greetings:

Mopar, the brakes are easy to check and adjust. Screw the nut in until the brake starts to rub, then back off 1/2-1 turn. Consider the possibility of a bearing in the transmission case getting hot and starting to fail. Otherwise, not much else can go wrong.

Bear45-70 wrote:

mopar4u wrote:Just put an order in for a new Honda belt.

I wonder if one of the brakes are sticking creating the noise? Is this possible?

You should cancel the stock belt and go buy an SAE cogged belt which is 1/2" X 24". It is a cheap speed secret and will give you some extra MPH. Part number for the is AX-24 which pretty much applies to all manufacturers.

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... ree#p61198

why would this belt give more mph? I'm guessing anything that gives more mph will reduce low end?? God knows the spree doesn't need any less take off.

mopar4u wrote:

Bear45-70 wrote:

mopar4u wrote:Just put an order in for a new Honda belt.

I wonder if one of the brakes are sticking creating the noise? Is this possible?

You should cancel the stock belt and go buy an SAE cogged belt which is 1/2" X 24". It is a cheap speed secret and will give you some extra MPH. Part number for the is AX-24 which pretty much applies to all manufacturers.

http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... ree#p61198

why would this belt give more mph? I'm guessing anything that gives more mph will reduce low end?? God knows the spree doesn't need any less take off.

The belt does it by riding slightly higher in the pulley. True, it will decrease acceleration a bit as it increases top speed. But low top speed is what most people complain about with the Spree. So, cover up the low acceleration with an Big Bore Kit. I am willing to bet the price of the belt that you would never feel the difference in acceleration and a mph or two more isn't much either. But in conjunction with a slightly larger tire it could add up to 3 or 4 mph.

I had the exact same problem with mine. I just took the clutch cover off and replaced the clutch and it was fine, but you could take the clutch apart and try to fix it yourself.

have you made sure the transmission has oil? the very rear of it, there's a bolt a couple inches up from the bottom. the oil level should be just below the bolt