Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

To start, I have been riding the scoot with no issues for a while, but suspected a slightly lean condition based on the ring ding ding of the scooter. I moved my carb needle clip down one click (moved the needle up one) and went for a ride. About 2 miles into the ride the scooter started surging, power on, power off, power on, power off... you get the idea. It did stall once, but started right back up. I made it back home and now need some help.

Intuitively I think that I should move the clip back since that was the last thing I did before the problem started. But my gut is telling me this isn't a slightly rich fuel problem. Electrical perhaps? CDI going bad... perhaps? Any help out there in the two smokin masters? Anyone run into this problem before?

Thanks!

had the same problem. Ur runnin lean. Turn ur air mix screw all the way in to the right, then check you manual for base setting, mine was 1 1/4 turn to the left. Choking problem solved. Get a tach and fine tune ur machine. Im runnin an 85 aero 50, its never been faster, hits 40 no problem.

This problem started when I richened the mixture by raising the needle

by raising the needle, lowering the clip you have made it leaner. try the reverse

dun rite wrote:by raising the needle, lowering the clip you have made it leaner. try the reverse

Wait, WHAT! Did I fail carb 101 All this time I have thought raising the needle allowed more fuel out of the jet???

Lowering the clip should be richer in the area of needle influence (see diagram)

With the needle lifted - maybe your engine is 'four-stroking'? I've had scooters alternate between normal and four-stroking. Weee..neee..Weeee..neee all the way home . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-stroking

Fishman43 wrote:

dun rite wrote:by raising the needle, lowering the clip you have made it leaner. try the reverse

Wait, WHAT! Did I fail carb 101 All this time I have thought raising the needle allowed more fuel out of the jet???

oh S had it wrong guess i failed carbs 101 I should read better

mousewheels wrote:Lowering the clip should be richer in the area of needle influence (see diagram)

With the needle lifted - maybe your engine is 'four-stroking'? I've had scooters alternate between normal and four-stroking. Weee..neee..Weeee..neee all the way home . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-stroking

Thanks Mouse, I will return the needle to the previous clipped position and see if the issue resolves.

Too rich can cause surging too.

After adjusting the clip back to the starting point I thought the issue was solved since I didn't have the problem on the next ride. Today it briefly happened again and the scooter felt a little sluggish unlike it has in the past (at the same settings it is at now). When the power cuts out it is almost like a switch turns off the engine and then back on a second later. Any ideas to solve this issue.

-- on the electrical side --
If the power seems totally shut off - Swap coil and CDI if you have them handy. An intermittent short to ground on the 'kill wire' might cause issues too.

I think I have a spare CDI floating around in a parts box somewhere, I will try that.

Intermittent electrical problems are probably the worst problem I can think of to track down

Bringing this back up for a current status. Mouse and Bear had it correct, I was running to rich and four stroking. I finally got around to getting a temp gauge and put it on under the spark plug. I ran it wide open as best I could with the current settings, managed to slug up to 35 MPH with WOT but the temps never got higher than 224.

I put in one jet size down and the power and pick up took right off. Ran it as hard and as long as I could at WOT and the temp spiked at 312. With no more surging or power pulsing.

This brings up a up question and an observation:

1. What is a safe peak temp for the Aero "large" bore from Daywot?

2. The previous jetting size was what I ran it at all last summer with no issues. This spring I replaced the rubber O-rings between the carb and the intake. I must have been sucking a modest amount of air all last summer to make the previous jet size run so well, yikes!

You are aware the the needle will NOT effect the WOT mixture? You need to change the jet to do that.

About 375┬░ is the max you want to see after a WOT run and closing the throttle (lean condition).