Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

I have a 1987 honda elite se50. when first starting it it starts but then dies. I have replaced the carb , fuel and vaccum lines and vaccum operated fuel pump . If i spray starter fluid in it it starts and runs fine. Once it sits for a while and cools down it does the same thing , starts then dies

Why did you replace the carb, was the original one broken? What carb did you replace it with?

We had them out riding back in the spring and mine suddenly lost power and would only go about 29 mikes an hour. We got back and it died and wouldn't start so my first thought was the carb so I ordered an aftermarket one and put on . Now after a busy summer I finally got a chance to tinker with it more. Last night once I got it started again and it warmed up it ran fine . So this time I left the air filter off and this morning it started right up so I have a new air filter ordered. Hopefully that is the problem , starving for air on the initial start up. What do u think?

The absolute BEST carb to use for these scoots is their stock ones unless the motor has performance modifications. Theyve been researched, tested, tuned and MADE to optimize a proper running condition for that particular combination of motor components. Any "One-size-fits-all replacement" carb you buy will need to be tweaked, massaged, tuned and worked over JUST to get it running "OK". What I tell everyone to do is take the money you were going to spend on a chinese generic carb and re-build the stock one with fresh gaskets and internals. In the long run, your scoot (and wallet) will thank you.

That being said, if you got that cheapo carb runnin good....run it! Those who've had success with those carbs are certainly in the minority.

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Greetings:

Quoth LedBetter:
We had them out riding back in the spring and mine suddenly lost power and would only go about 29 mikes an hour. We got back and it died and wouldn't start so my first thought was the carb...[Emphasis added.]
Maybe think again? There is nothing in your post that leads me to the conclusion that it must've been the carb in the first place. Carbs that are adjusted to run well in their scooters usually just keep on... um,... running well. It's when they SIT too long that they start to go wonky, as the fuel vaporizes and leaves Epoxy behind.

A clogged air filter, a broken reed, decreased compression, leaking crank seals or an exhaust becoming hopelessly clogged with carbon seem at least equally likely. Sometimes you just need a new spark plug - a lot easier to change than a carb. Maybe stop "adjusting" the carb and look for some of these other things?