Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

So I cleaned out the carb real well, new gas and oil, new plug, new air filter element, new fuel lines. I adjusted the idle and air screws per what I found on this forum (1 1/2 - 1 7/8 turns). It sat for an undertermined number of years before I took ownership. I can start it, and it runs like crazy, really high idle, for about five to ten seconds, then dies. Lots of white smoke at first, then that goes away. Any ideas as to what the problem might be? It seems like it's getting lots of gas at first then none at all. The fuel strainer is clean, too. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Guessing that idle jet is still plugged, and that the carb slide is jammed slightly open or installed backwards. Does your carb still have the needle jet (sharp thing on the barrel?)

Yes, it still has the needle jet. I've taken the whole assembly apart about three times to clean it...I'll double check my work just to be sure. I used info from this site and the scooter therapy site as a guide, so I'm sure I'm putting it back together correctly, but it never hurts to re-check.

yeah you gotta clean clean clean the carb..soakin it in carb dip overnight helps too..compressed air works wonders but if you dont have compressed air you can buy those canned air at like computer stores..at 5-6 bucks a can its not cheap but its better then nothing.

haha... if you dont have an air compressor, i would suggets getting one ASAP... itll be the best investment ever

bigbaer wrote:Yes, it still has the needle jet. I've taken the whole assembly apart about three times to clean it...I'll double check my work just to be sure. I used info from this site and the scooter therapy site as a guide, so I'm sure I'm putting it back together correctly, but it never hurts to re-check.

Did you ever get spray to go through the idle jet (next to main jet?)

Also check for vacuum leaks.

Also, dump the old 2-stroke oil, purge lines, refill with known 2-stroke injector oil.

I took the carb off again, took it apart, and used compressed air on the idle jet. Only there was a wierd popping...maybe it was just the stuff coming loose. I made sure I was getting flow through it, and put everything back together. I went to start it up, and I'm not getting much fuel to the carb, not enough to start her up. I drained the bowl to see how much was in there (after a few minutes of kick starting) and only drained about a tablespoon of fuel out. Did I damage something with the air? I only had the compressor set at about 20 psi, if that makes any difference.

the float adjusted right? 20 psi aint enough..you need 100 psi...you cant hurt anything as long as you aint drilling

I didn't want to push too much air through due to the risk of screwing something up. 20psi seems to have cleared the blockage on the idle jet, so I didn't need more. My question is (sorry, I'm new to these carbs) did I possibly break a seal inside the carb, like a diaphram or something? It sat for years, so the possibility of dry rot is realistic, and any pressure could have messed it up. Thoughts?

The carbs are pretty basic. Nothing to break. I'd guess your fuel restriction is in the vacuum-operated petcock. Have you checked that yet?

The petcock is working correctly as of last night. Maybe there isn't enough vacuum coming from the carb?

bigbaer wrote:The petcock is working correctly as of last night. Maybe there isn't enough vacuum coming from the carb?

Wait... are you making sure to fill the carb after you reinstall it, by applying vacuum to the petcock and filling it up manually, either with a Mightymite or just pulling vaccuum with your mouth? If you install a dry carb, you're going to be kicking for a long time waiting for it to fill up.

Yep, I'm filling it first. I'm going to tear the whole thing apart one more time and try again before putting a match to it I'll let you know how it goes.

So I tore everything apart today, and had the same results. I did, however, find that the auto bystarter had a break in it and the needle wasn't able to engage the port correctly (it was a break in the part that holds the needle straight). Would this have anything to do with the problems? How about the accel cable possibly needing a good lubrication...could that hold the main jet needle out too far, allowing too much fuel?

yea you may haver a leak or the neddle isnt seated right...