Crank Case Full of Oil on my Spree

[Mystic]

if the seals are bad then it may not run once you get everything else done. It may crank but it will not run right since some crankcase pressure will escape causing you to have lower compression. It is possible to replace the seals without splitting the cases but you do have to take the flywheel and drive face off, pry the seals out, then get a pipe the same diameter as the outside of the seal and lightly tap them in with a hammer...I say a pipe because it will fit around the shafts

[Bear45-70]

Upside down will leave oil trapped in the piston dome. To do it right, you should pull the intake and reeds and roll the motor on its side.

[TimmyC]

Well, I got everything back together and it seems like I have decent compression, Mystic. However, it's not starting yet so I could still have a crankcase seal problem once I'm up and running.

Thanks for the added insight, Bear45-70. I did as you said and definitely captured a bit more oil. I also cleaned the carb as nicely as I have ever have. I also confirmed I have great spark - just no fuel.

I sucked on the lower line (vacuum tube) of the auto fuel valve/petcock and I'm not getting anything from the fuel line. I'm tempted to go with one of those #11 fuel petcocks from kazumausaonline that others have had success with on here because I don't know anything about how to repair the vacuum actuated one.

Does anyone have any suggestions about trying to fix the auto fuel valve beyond what the Honda manual suggests about using compressed air? Should I start a new thread? If so, thanks for all your help!

[Mystic]

you can try soaking it in solvent or push a qtip in from where it screws on to depress the diaphram but most of the time when you push it tears the diaphram. may be easier to replace it. This one is a china clone but i ordered one recently and works perfect plus you cant beat the price. IF it is faulty since a lot of china stuff is the guy will send you a replacement.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180482554120?ss ... 1439.l2649

--just looked at the year model you have, if i am not mistaken the early Sprees petcocks had a smaller thread diameter on the petcock so the one i posted is probably not right. Scrappydogscooters.com has the smaller diameter petcocks for a reasonable price but you might want to contact them and make for sure. What size is the bolt that screws your petcock on?

[TimmyC]

The nut that screws on my 1985 Spree Petcock is a 19mm. Scrappydogscooters.com has two sizes, and the smaller one has a 14mm nut, so I can only assume it's the larger one (they claim the larger one is used on 99% of scooters). They don't list the size of the nut on the larger one.

I'd prefer to purchase a replacement rather than bring the old one back to life. Not to mention, the gasket on it is pretty shot and I don't want pieces of it getting into the fuel line.

What size is the nut on the one you received from ophir4u on eBay?

[Mystic]

14mm nut. honda changed the petcock on the 86 model and has been using it on several different models from 86 till the 2000s the nut on yours might be larger but the diameter of the threads on the tank are smaller on the 84-85 Spree as opposed to the 86-87

[TimmyC]

Well, I decided to soak the fuel valve in mineral spirits after all. After doing so, I could hear the diaphragm moving up and down when I sucked on the vacuum inlet so I went ahead and installed it and voila - fuel in the fuel bowl after cranking the engine for a few seconds. But it wasn't firing. I ended up having to shoot some starting fluid into the cylinder to get it started but I cruised around for a few minutes before it died. I really doubt that it was running on the starting fluid that whole time (it seemed to be running too good for that), but who knows. Perhaps my spark plug got fouled out from burning the residual oil left in the cylinder that didn't drain out. It was smoking like * - which I expected. I will report back once I have some time to mess with it tonight. Woohoo! Progress!

[evilone]

I ended up having to shoot some starting fluid into the cylinder to get it started but I cruised around for a few minutes before it died. I really doubt that it was running on the starting fluid that whole time (it seemed to be running too good for that), but who knows.

Stop using starting fluid, it does not have any oil in it to lubricate. Pour a small amount of mixed gas/oil in spark plug hole instead.

[TimmyC]

OK, guys. I'm getting further. I stopped using starting fluid and replaced my spark plug instead. Huge improvement. Spree was starting well, but dying after a couple minutes. So I unplugged the auto bystarter. Now it's ripping around pretty darn good, except throttle response is still somewhat lacking. I plugged it back in after Spree was warm and it started running like crap again.

I read somewhere else on this forum that a Spree that runs well with the auto bystarter unplugged likely has a clogged idle jet. Therefore, my next step is to clean the carb again.

Is there anything else that can cause a Spree to run well with the auto bystarter unplugged, but crappy with the auto bystarter plugged in?

[swimmingfree]

do you have the air filter on and tie ???
swimmingfree

[TimmyC]

Yes, the air filter is new, on, and tight. You may want to read my post again (I edited it).

[swimmingfree]

what color is the plug???? brow or black???
the pin on the slide what notch is it on shood be in the middle..
how did you set the carb????
swimmingfree

[TimmyC]

Plug is new and looks normal after operation. Pin is in middle slide. Carb is set to specs. I'm convinced my carb is not completely clean since my Spree is running significantly better without the auto bystarter plugged in.

After seeing the attached photo in viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21448 I now know that I didn't clean my carb as well as it needed to be. I tried clearing out the cast pilot circuit hole with a guitar string prior to reassembly but after 20 minutes of no success, I was convinced that it wasn't designed to go straight through - and obviously I was wrong. It would be great if the attached photo from viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21448 was added to all photo collections of carb cleaning procedures.

I will report back once I get the pilot circuit hole clean and I am able to determine is this was my issue.

[Bear45-70]

........................................................I read somewhere else on this forum that a Spree that runs well with the auto bystarter unplugged likely has a clogged idle jet. Therefore, my next step is to clean the carb again.

Is there anything else that can cause a Spree to run well with the auto bystarter unplugged, but crappy with the auto bystarter plugged in?

This is incorrect. The bystarter removed means the engine is leaned out from the crappy running, so the float level is too high or to big a main jet.

[TimmyC]

Three days of soaking in Berryman's and my pilot circuit will not blow clean. I'm frustrated to say the least. Does anyone know where I might be able to score a new and/or used carb body? I think I have to give up on mine. I'm trying to source one locally in Phoenix through salvage yards and Craigslist but I'm not having any luck. Am I making too big of a deal over this pilot circuit? Should my Spree be running OK with this passage clogged? What does it do anyway?

Bear45-70, how could the float level be too high if the floats aren't adjustable? Knowing where this scooter came from, I doubt the main jet is anything but factory standard.