Hey Mr Bullfrog I have the standard flywheel for my 96 Dirt Squirt and I even tried an alternative one to see if it made a difference. I think one was maybe a little better than the other, but neither were good and the vibration persisted. Have you come across an alternative arrangement to the stand...

Thanks for your comment Bill. Another thing I've noticed is that the bike is 'fuelling' much better now, and pulling strongly mid-range, which leads me to think that the vibration was messing with the mixture somehow. Amazing difference. I'd love to come to the US and try someone else's Dirt Squirt ...

I have exactly this problem on my 96 Dirt Squirt, but only when the weather is cold. In summer no problem, so in the winter I simply take out the oil dipstick for the first two or three minutes of warm up (stationary of course) then switch off the engine and replace the dipstick. I've tried differen...

Hey Guys - message from the UK here. I've owned my 96 Dirt Squirt for a few years now - one of the only ones in the UK. Ever since I've had it, and despite a full engine rebuild including all new bearings and a re-bore, the bike has had an annoying and quite harsh vibration mid-range, both accelerat...

Hey Guys I don't normally write in capital letters but HALLELULIA THE VIBRATION IS GONE !!!!! Charlie's flywheel turned up yesterday (beautifully cleaned so thanks Charlie), and having fitted it (including new key) I've just come back from a fantastic blast around the Gloucestershire countryside. It...

Hey Guys I see the debate is still rumbling on. Hope I don't end up being the one to eat crow if there's nothing wrong with my bike (or no way of fixing it as that's how they were made). Anyway, I managed to track down the Hodaka collector in the UK, who has around 7-8 bikes. He's no mechanic but he...

Hi Ed So you mean I caused all this discussion for nothing?? :D I'd be quite prepared to believe this is true except that both Roger Lippiat and Paul Stanard have told me that Dirt Squirts should be pretty smooth through the rev range. I've ridden old two strokes plenty of times, including the oldes...

Hello All Just came back from the garage - more checking. There is no up/down/side to side or in and out movement I can detect on either the flywheel or the clutch. All seems solid. When I start the bike with side cover off it's very difficult to see what's actually happening at low revs. However, t...

OK Guys, maybe I'm wrong. Am happy to bow to your greater knowledge. I will keep trying to contact the UK guy with the Hodaka collection to see if I can borrow a flywheel, but if by middle of next week I've had no joy I'll contact you again Charlie - is that OK? Can you send me an email just so that...

Hi Danny I'm measuring accurately using a dial gauge, so pretty confident of my figures. Can't see any movement - can only measure it. Also, what you describe is correct. As I said, if the crank was perfect but only the flywheel was wrong, then the runout would be the same amount but just move aroun...

Hey Danny Glad I got the correct flywheel anyway. It's not the overall size of the runout that bothers me, it's the fact that the flywheel is clearly tilted on the crank - flywheel and crankshaft are not parallel. But how do I correct this? If I had a perfect crank but a cocked over flywheel, rotati...

DSCF1394.JPG DSCF1393.JPG Hey Guys - I think we may be homing in on the problem. Just to be clear Danny, my bike is model 96 Dirt Squirt with chrome tank. Made in 1973. Is mine the correct flywheel? I assume so. OK, with the key removed (doesn't seem to make any difference to runout on the flywheel...

DSCF1392.JPG Hello Guys To answer a few more questions. I have been over the frame with a powerful torch and can't see anything amiss. I tested the engine mounts when the engine was out of the frame and they seemed solid enough. I even changed the engine mounting bolts but it made no difference. Re...

Hello Ed/Max Sorry, should have made it clearer on my last post. I measured runout on the outside of the flywheel twice, both times without the key being in place. The first time with the key slot lined up (by eye) with where it should be. This gave 0.1mm runout. I then moved the flywheel around to ...

Me again. Just found out something else. I measured runout on the outside of the flywheel - this time I got around 0.1m? I then took the flywheel off, removed the key and put the flywheel back on again with the key slot on the opposite side to where it should be. Runout this time was only 0.03mm. So...

Hey Guys I was going to insert a picture of the flywheel but I can't work out how to do this? Any pointers? It looks OK to me with no damage to rivets which all look and feel tight. Interesting. When I did a runout measurement of the outside of the flywheel, I got 0.07mm this time. Remember that the...

OK Guys - time for a quick update. To answer some new posts, I replaced both main bearings when I did the engine re-build and I didn't notice any cracks around the housings. In fact the bearings were quite difficult to get out so I put the cases in the oven at 140 degrees c and then tapped them out....

Hey Guys Wish I was there with you to share the beer when we finally uncover the source of this vibration problem. Just to let you know, I did take the clutch apart and 'blue-printed' it as described on the Strictly Hodaka site. All seemed to be in good condition and with very little wear on the clu...

Hey GMC and Tom Just to answer your questions, I did try revving the bike in first gear with the clutch pulled in. Same vibration at the same revs I'm afraid, so it's not coming from the gearbox or kick start shafts. I chased up the guy who's checking the flywheel for balance but unfortunately it's ...

Hey Guys Just had a thought. When I first got the bike it wouldn't run. No spark. Traced this to poor earth through the points back plate, which was only held on by one screw. In order to get to the back plate I had to take off the flywheel and I remember it being quite difficult (using the correct ...

Hey Guys I'm intrigued. Thrownchain seems to me saying Hodaka went over to rubber handlebar and engine mounts to reduce/remove the vibration. Is this correct? My bike has rubber mounted fuel tank (I replaced the rubbers) but the handlebars and engine do not have rubber mounts. Nor the seat. Should t...

Guys - I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to give me the benefit of your experience. This world wide web is a wonderful thing. I have to say that what you're explaining about harmonics AS does make a lot of sense. Unfortunately I am away for a couple of days now, but come the...

Thanks Arizona Shorty What you say makes sense. I can confirm, the vibration is related to the revs and happens in neutral and also in every gear at the same revs. I get the vibration with clutch in or out, in gear or out of gear. It even happens at the specific rev range when slowing down under eng...

Thanks for your points Dale and Brian. I took the clutch apart when I re-built the engine and went through the 'blue printing' operation as recommended on the Strictly Hodaka website. All components looked to be in good condition but if I have no joy with the flywheel I'll have another look. Regardi...

Hello Dale
Thanks for your post.
I am using the Belray Gearsaver as recommended on the Strictly Hodaka website. I put in around 550ml having rebuilt the engine, but I haven't checked it on the dipstick. Will do as you say and make sure I'm not over-filling it.
Thanks
Tim