Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Revisiting a shelved project. 87 Elite 50. New petcock, removed and cleaned carb, new gapped plug, new o-rings and spacer between carb and intake, fresh gas, auto bystarter resistance measured 6ohms (spec says max10), air screw out 1.75 turns. Compression measured a little over 6 kg/cm2 which is what the book says is the spec. I can only get it started and keep it running by having the air filter off and holding my hand over the air filter side of the carb and sort of “feeling” the rhythm of the engine and letting in more or less air by moving my hand. I would have instances of fuel splashing my hand while using this method. Plug was a little oily when I pulled it to check. Later on I tried with all the factory air box/air filter in tact and couldn’t get it to fire at all. What am I missing?

Sounds exactly like another case of "pilot circuit clogged"
Another dis-assembly of the carb, remove mixture screw, remove bowl.
Spray carb cleaner through the pilot from the bowl side.
Then same from mixture screw opening.
Then same through the air intake passage from the filter side of the carb throat.
ALL must flow in order to have a properly functioning idle and cold-start.
Also: confirm the jet in the bystarter well is flowing to allow fuel into that well...hope that is clear.
Good chance that will give you better result...good luck.

Thanks, I’ll give it another shot at the carb cleaning.

I cleaned the carb like I have never cleaned out before. Took out the main jet, tiny wire through everything, super duper cleaning. Got it started up and buzzed around town, seems to run pretty good now, thanks!

Sometimes it takes several cleanings to achieve a good result.
Glad you had success.