air screw is missing!!!!! how could this have happened?????

xsk3l3t0rx · Post by **xsk3l3t0rx** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:26 pm

so i am riding my spree home and i notice that the bike keeps shutting down when i come to a complete stop. it will not idle for longer than 3 secs or so before turning off. upon removal of the side fairing, i notice that the air screw is missing from the carburetor!!!! it is literally frickin missing. ive had nothing but problems with this bike. does anyone know how an airscrew can just go missing? i just ordered a new airscrew and it set me back 18$ i would like to know how this couldve happened so that i dont have to spend another 18$ on a d*** screw. is this a common thing to happen? just to be sure, on an 87 spree, there are three screws, the one on the bottom is the drain, the top one with the spring is the idle, and the middle one to the left is the air screw right? well i have to go to work, please someone help, im sure this is not normal behavior!

Wheelman-111 · Post by **Wheelman-111** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:31 pm

Greetings:

The low-speed idle MIXTURE screw is usucally inserted over a small coil spring whose role is (in part) to keep pressure on the threads and prevent the screw from randomly turning with engine vibration, etc. The spring fits all the way inside the carb, so you couldn't see it under normal operating conditions. The only way I see for it to back itself out is to be installed without said spring. The Tech section has service manuals that show a diagram of the carb under the Fuel System chapter so you can see what I mean. A new screw without the spring is likely to disappear like the old one.

xsk3l3t0rx · Post by **xsk3l3t0rx** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 3:56 pm

so you are saying that the idle screw AND the air screw should both have springs on them? as i remember, the idle screw (top) has a spring on it and requires a philips head (X) to turn it, whereas my air screw had no spring i dont believe and required a philips head (-) to turn it. so you believe that was the problem? are you saying that if it had a spring on it, it wouldnt have came out? i have had this bike for like 3 months now riding it consistently and just now for that to happen, it kinda sucks. i appreciate the help, get back to me if you can. if i can definitely be sure that was the problem, it will give me a little more confidence to ride it again without fear of something else breaking. ive put more money into fixing this beater than the price of the bike itself. well i gtg to work thanks, and if anyone else has any thoughts or help feel free to leave some messages ill readthem wen i get home peace.

minihondaclub · Post by **minihondaclub** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:13 pm

The Wheelman is correct.

It's the spring that was missing that let your airscrew completely back out. I had a similar problem with my Spree and found I had to order a new screw b/c I could not find just the spring. I just ordered it from the dealer for $12 bucks! It was cheaper online, but after shipping it was almost the same.

Good luck and make sure you have a spring before you put in the new screw.

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:17 pm

minihondaclub wrote:The Wheelman is correct.

Good luck and make sure you have a spring before you put in the new screw.

Yup. No spring = lost screw.

CaptDan

xsk3l3t0rx · Post by **xsk3l3t0rx** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:40 pm

thanks all. you guys really are the best, much appreciated!!!!

xsk3l3t0rx · Post by **xsk3l3t0rx** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:42 pm

i have been riding this scoot for like 4 months now and i work on it like every week, and just now it decides to fall out? seems strange to me

CaptDan · Post by **CaptDan** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:51 pm

xsk3l3t0rx wrote:i have been riding this scoot for like 4 months now and i work on it like every week, and just now it decides to fall out? seems strange to me

Was the mixture screw left untouched the entire time? If not, you may have accidently forgotten to reinstall the spring (easy to do, I've been there). Then, days, even a couple weeks later, after vibrations cause it to slowly back out.....P L I N G! It finds its new home under a sewer grating somewhere.

CaptDan

Clivester · Post by **Clivester** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:28 pm

xsk3l3t0rx wrote:so you are saying that the idle screw AND the air screw should both have springs on them? as i remember, the idle screw (top) has a spring on it and requires a philips head (X) to turn it, whereas my air screw had no spring i dont believe and required a philips head (-) to turn it. so you believe that was the problem? are you saying that if it had a spring on it, it wouldnt have came out?

Not only should it have the spring, there should also be a tiny washer and o-ring. If the spring is not there they won't get compressed against the seat and seal properly. See my post here.

Clive