How to Adjust the Carburetor on a Honda Elite 80 Scooter
by Sam Surgalski
The purpose of the carburetor on a Honda Elite 80 is to supply and control the fuel flow to the piston block. You can adjust the carburetor to provide more or less fuel, and thereby directly affecting the overall performance of the moped. Working on your carburetor involves a few hours of trial-and-error testing with different size brass jets, and requires some knowledge about how your Honda Elite works. In addition, trial-and-error adjustment of the idle screw can change how your scooter performs when idling.
Adjusting the Carburetor Jet
Step 1
Locate your Honda's carburetor, which is on the left side of the bike and has a yellow plastic fuel line connecting it to the gas tank.
Step 2
Remove the carburetor with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Unfasten the two screws holding it in place and put them in a plastic bag for safe keeping. Gently tug on the carburetor to dislodge it from the moped. It is necessary to remove the carburetor in order to access the brass fuel jet inside of it.
Step 3
Strip down the carburetor to its bare parts. This process involves unscrewing the plastic "float-bowl" as well as the metal cap holding the throttle assembly in the carburetor. Keep all removed parts with the carburetor.
Step 4
Locate the brass screw that has a hole in the middle of it. This is the carburetor jet, which controls fuel flow to the piston head. Unscrew this using your fingers, and replace it with a larger jet for better performance, and a smaller one if you live in a high-altitude area.
Step 5
Replace the carburetor parts, and reattach the carburetor on the bike.
Step 6
Locate the air filter on the right side of the moped. Remove its plastic cover using a flat-head screwdriver.
Step 7
Keep the cover off of the air filter. This will increase air flow to the engine, helping to balance the increased fuel flow caused by the bigger carburetor jet. If you do not remove the air cover, the engine will stall out due to a rich fuel source.
Adjusting the Idle Screw
Step 1
Locate the idle screw which is on the side of the carburetor and has a metal spring attached to its neck.
Step 2
Start the engine and place the moped on its kickstand. Twist the idle screw to the right, 1/4-turn at a time.
Step 3
Wait for the moped to react after each turn. The ideal idle speed is reached when the back wheel is barely turning on its axis, but the engine is not stuttering or stalling.
Tips
- Mounting a larger carburetor onto your engine instead of adjusting your current one may produce better performance.
Things You'll Need
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Brass jet set
- Flat-head screwdriver
Warnings
- If you're not comfortable working on your moped, do not take it apart. Bring it to a repair shop and have a mechanic make the adjustments for you.
Writer Bio
Sam Surgalski is a writer in Traverse City, Mich. His articles have appeared in The iPhone App Review, Winners Within Us, and on various other websites. Surgalski has a passion for all things aviation and writing, and enjoys playing the piano.
