Help with '87 Spree :-(
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 12:07 pm
Hi all,
Looking for some help/suggestions to try and get my Spree running again. I have an '87 with 700 miles. I'm the second owner, but have owned it for ~15 years. It's only ever needed a carb clean once a year to stay running great. It recently had become harder to start (when cold). It was taking quite a few cranks (electric or kick) to get started. Once warmed up, it seemed ok. I regret it now, but went down a long rabbit hole of changing/replacing parts after several carb cleans (and bystarter change) didn't solve it. I'm now at a point where it doesn't really run. I can get it to start now and then, but it requires wide open throttle and cranking the starter for a long time. If it does start, it'll barely run for 15-20 seconds and die.
Bought a compression tester and it's showing ~80. The hose for the tester is about a foot long, so I'm hoping that the compression may be higher? (but with the tester that I have I need to use the hose)
Things I've replaced:
- Tried 2-3 carburetors (cleaned in ultrasonic cleaner and used welder tip cleaner on jets)
- Tried 2-3 bystarters
- Replaced spark plug
- Replaced gas
- Replaced engine/oil seals
- Replaced petcock (and fuel/vacuum lines)
- Replaced reeds
- Replaced carburetor spacer (mine was originally missing)
- Replaced piston and rings
- Cooked the exhaust to remove carbon
I'm not sure what else to try or test, but hoping that I've overlooked something obvious?
Any help/suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Josh
Looking for some help/suggestions to try and get my Spree running again. I have an '87 with 700 miles. I'm the second owner, but have owned it for ~15 years. It's only ever needed a carb clean once a year to stay running great. It recently had become harder to start (when cold). It was taking quite a few cranks (electric or kick) to get started. Once warmed up, it seemed ok. I regret it now, but went down a long rabbit hole of changing/replacing parts after several carb cleans (and bystarter change) didn't solve it. I'm now at a point where it doesn't really run. I can get it to start now and then, but it requires wide open throttle and cranking the starter for a long time. If it does start, it'll barely run for 15-20 seconds and die.
Bought a compression tester and it's showing ~80. The hose for the tester is about a foot long, so I'm hoping that the compression may be higher? (but with the tester that I have I need to use the hose)
Things I've replaced:
- Tried 2-3 carburetors (cleaned in ultrasonic cleaner and used welder tip cleaner on jets)
- Tried 2-3 bystarters
- Replaced spark plug
- Replaced gas
- Replaced engine/oil seals
- Replaced petcock (and fuel/vacuum lines)
- Replaced reeds
- Replaced carburetor spacer (mine was originally missing)
- Replaced piston and rings
- Cooked the exhaust to remove carbon
I'm not sure what else to try or test, but hoping that I've overlooked something obvious?
Any help/suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks,
Josh