Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

hi,i purchased an 85 spree basket case,guy said it siezed+he broke new ring assembling it.it came w new DOMED PISTON+HEAD (old ones were flat)i measured cylinder its within specs,honed it but ring would not colapse enogh w expansion ring under it.(i notice aftermarket pistons dont have the third octagon ring)so i omitted expansion ring.the lettering was correct the ex on piston is pointing to exhaust,the lawn mower guy said"thats a tight fit you will have high compression"im getting a whopping 30 lbs. + it wont stay running.i put new head+ base gaskets+sprayed soapy water+no bubbles.IM STUMPED.is the crank,stroke,or connecting rod different on early + later sprees.i want to put new reed valves but dealer said discontinued.does anyone know a repudable place to get them?last resort crank seals,i dont want to go there.thanx for any feedback.

Actually the original '85 Spree had a dished piston, not a flat piston. The domed piston is the factory replacement and running the original '85 head with the domed piston is a performance enhancer, more compression. And the rest of the engine is the same, late and early. Have you confirmed on a running engine that the compression gauge is good?

THANK YOU so much for your thoughts bear.the original pisto n is "dished" sorry for calling it flat.im leery of running flat head w dome piston due to piston hitting head.would every thing else withstand more compression having 25 yrs+2000k?have not confirmed tester is good but when i gave it the "cuban thumbprint plug hole test"it showed little force on my thumb.i have to eyedrop gas in plug hole to start+it wont run long,not enough power to pull my pot belly.thanx for any more ideas !!!

It will work just fine and no the piston will not hit the head.

If the engine starts with primer in the plug hole, your compression is not

30 PSI because these engines will not fire at less than 70 PSI.

Clean the carb per instructions in Wikispreedia.

carb was cleaned thoroughly

Once is not enough with these carb. The average noobee takes 3 tries before getting it right. Clean the carb per the instructions in Wikispreedia.

soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

i also put all new seals+float needle

Bear45-70 wrote:Once is not enough with these carb. The average noobee takes 3 tries before getting it right. Clean the carb per the instructions in Wikispreedia.

Heck, I've got a carb on my SA50 that I've had apart 6 times and it's still not right

jmcginn68 wrote:soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

I don't hear mention specifically of the idle jet... it won't idle with this plugged... and it's always plugged.

jmcginn68 wrote:soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

Acetone is NOT carb cleaner and is nowhere near caustic enough to clean a carb, especially one with very little plugged passages, AKA the idle or pilot circuit.

jmcginn68 wrote:soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

You need this http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0126

abreen89 wrote:

jmcginn68 wrote:soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

You need this http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0126

Not needed. $ on something that works but, an added cost. $2 can of carb cleaner will do. Just follow the instructions.

martynkim wrote:

abreen89 wrote:

jmcginn68 wrote:soaked it all in acetone for 2 weeks,pushed out the "main jet? thing w the little holes blew air + carb clean every wich way ,even that hole in bowl bottom.

You need this http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0126

Not needed. $ on something that works but, an added cost. $2 can of carb cleaner will do. Just follow the instructions.

Over the years I have had poor performance from the spray carb cleaners and years of crap in the carb. The dip has always worked in the end.

Is carb clean cheaper in Tacoma in graham I pay 4+ a can