Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Got a 85 Spree that I can’t get to start. I bought it last year and it was running perfectly when I test drove it. Brought it home, drove it to my friends house down the street, and haven’t been able to get it to start since.

So far I’ve already:

Replaced the spark plug and made sure I had a spark
Took off the carb and did a deep clean in it.
Took off the petcock, cleaned it, and made sure valve was working properly inside.


Not sure what else it could be and do not know where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.

Spark, air, fuel...figure out what youre NOT getting. Clean/Dry the plug, give it 3 kicks and check it...is it wet?

Plug gap in spec?

Dangle the plug from it’s tail and give it some kicks...got spark?

Hows the airbox/filter?...the Spree is super picky about that air system being in tip top order. Fresh and oiled filter, sealed airbox lid, no leaks in the down tube, etc...

Compression ok? Old Fuel from last Summer still in it?

Do you have the 3 elements needed for start? Key ON, red button to RUN, left brake handle squeezed and verified by brakelight brightness....Its almost always the simple things.

Looks like Meatball pretty much covered it. Maybe check timing (CDI, woodruff key on crankshaft). Or crank seals? Sometimes the pulley side comes out for some reason.

These guys know way more than I..

If it was running, then I'd do a compression test.