Matt that "crystal ball" appears to be a pocket watch holder with magnification lens. Back when we were riding enduros in the 70's we had mounted on our handlebars at least one route sheet holder (sometimes two), an odometer, and a watch holder with a watch set to start time for our minute...

Kev, a 14 inch radius (28 inch diameter) drum would be pretty big for a motorcycle wheel.

Always logged in here. Never have to re-log.

Hahaha good stuff Clarence... I'm not falling for it.

And fun looking trails!!

Good advice from Victor relative to testing the compression. Also the cylinder and rings in an engine that has been sitting for years may have dried out considerably affecting the sealing surface. Once a little oil has found its way to the cylinder wall compression can increase significantly. A comp...

Jeff in Texas, I think we may be assuming that your clutch won't disengage because of the title of this pre-existing thread. Your assumptions seem to be correct, but given the subject line I have to ask, does your clutch slip or disengage or is it always fully engaged?

Good question from Clarence. Even if the inner race is stuck on the shaft the bearing should still turn freely, unless possibly it wasn't completely seating/centering itself, which could produce serious side loads on the balls and races. This would certainly bind and cause bearing failure very quick...

Victor, I think I should point out that your decimal points are off. I'm sure it was simply a typo. It should be 2.4mm which equals 0.094 inches. ".24mm" is nearly top dead center, and "0.94 inches" is nearly a full inch of stroke before top dead center. That would have the plug ...

Vic, I am convinced as others have suggested, that your starting issues are totally separate from jetting concerns. If there are no air leaks, and the needle valve and float are working correctly, and there are no obstructions to fuel flow, it should start on the enrichening circuit (choke) regardle...

I agree with everything that has been said about the primary reason for wiring spokes is to keep a broken spoke in place and from causing harm. It's true that under ideal smooth riding conditions the top spokes are simply in tension, however pounding over ledges, roots, and rocks can put substantial...

Back in the '70s we all used to send our worn out brake shoes to Aljo's in NJ to be relined with waterproof linings. They were cheaper and better quality than OEM. Hard to find somebody who does it now.

I think I remember when Yamadaka (Bulfrog) first joined the group, he told us his choice of moniker was based on a history with Bultacos. Not expecting to cause confusion. I find most of the participants of this chat group to be "gentlemen and scholars"

There was certainly no harm in asking.

I don't have the answer to your question but like the SWM trials bike with the Rotax Engine!

On my race bikes I run a ground wire directly from a mounting screw for the coil to a cylinder fin. This helps to establish a more secure and reliable ground that doesn't have to follow a path through the frame and motor mounts back to the engine.

Paint is definitely an insulator

The bottom bearing is usually the one that rusts and corrodes from accumulated moisture too. I have taken apart several steering heads with tapered roller bearings where the bottom bearing is completely seized due to corrosion. I suspect any grease is better than no grease at all.

I used to deal with Al Roberts in Texas for Can-Am parts. Most parts are readily available.

That should work nicely!

I know it's not a Hodaka but Here's my modified CR125 back in the day with layed down piggyback Marzocchi's. Note the hot wheels track fork guards!

Note that on this particular frame the swing arm has already been extended between the shock mounts and the wheel. Also the top shock mount has already been modified to accept a more forward location than stock. Both of these modifications add a slight amount of travel to the rear wheel and increase...

Laying the top down mechanically provides a rising rate for the springs as the shocks compress due to the decreased mechanical advantage applied by the swing arm. This is caused by the shocks becoming more perpendicular to the swing arm as they compress due to the geometry of the configuration. This...

I vaguely remember reading (probably 50 years ago) that the airbox should have enough clearance and volume so as to allow unrestricted laminar flow to the whole filter at full throttle, as if there was no airbox.

Judging by the pictures, that appears to be the spark plug wire coming out of the cases behind the flywheel, across the back of the engine between the cylinder and head, and laying on top of the exhaust pipe. Looks like the coil is behind the flywheel.