I have two speedometers in the boxes of parts that came with my Hodaka purchase. I'm hoping for some help identifying them. The one on the left goes to 80mph, is about 3 inches in diameter, has no trip odometer and doesn't fit the bracket I have for the bike. I understand the B+ should have a trip and be larger?
The one on the right is 3.5" dia. has the trip odo, fits the bracket but goes to 100mph.
Did the B+ speedo go up to 100mph?
As you can probably see the "Wrong" one is in good shape. The possibly correct speedo is probably scrap but if you deem it the right one, I'll take it apart and see if I can salvage it at all.
Hey Ken, the speedo on the left looks like the one on my '68 Ace 100 and inserts into the headlight nacelle. The larger one looks exactly like the one on my model 94 Wombat.
Thanks Matt. There are a few Ace 90 parts in the mix as I also got a 1966 roller in the deal. But from the photos I've seen I think all the 90's had white faced speedo's?
I see speedometers for sale on line that look like the larger one but all are listed as Wombat, (as you suggest) and none mention B+.
Not sure if this one can be saved but I'd still like to confirm if its right for my bike.
I think I'll soak it Metal Rescue first and then lube and see if it will free up.
Hey Ken, The larger speedo is the model found on the 94/94a Wombat. It is also the one used on the Ace 100B+ (PN 929311A). The Ace 100B speedo was similar but I believe the reset trip meter was not added until the B+ for use in enduro work. The little speedometer was used on the Ace 90 and 100 (with the larger, bullet=shaped headlight nacelle) as an insert on the top of the bucket. It is always worth a stab rebuilding but the one depicted in your thread looks a bit chewed. Rule #1 in Hodaka land - throw nothing away. Once its gone, its gone. From time to time I see face plates, cover glass, chrome bezels, etc. pop up. Lamps and sockets are always around. Somewhere here on the forum or perhaps the Resonator Revisited, someone published a report on rebuilding speedometers. I'll see if I can find it.
Thanks again Matt. So this is most likely the one from the bike. When I got the bike it seems that the last owner was in the midst of converting it for off road only use. As far gone as this speedo is I'll try to make it operational just because it would be nice to have the original part on the bike. I can either make a lens from lexan or maybe fit one from another gauge of similar size. (I've got a few scrap tacho's and speedo's from other brands).
the challenge will be to make it work and to do something with the face plate. Or as you suggest, maybe I can buy these bits.
Agreed, Ken. That would be the correct speedo. I'm with you in that I really like to try and restore the original equipment. None of my bikes are trailer queens. They are all working machines. I've always chosen dependability over cosmesis. I don't want to weep when I ding them up - which I do! I am very careful with meticulous maintenance so that they are mechanically well preserved. Oh, I found the thread I mentioned. Its on this forum. The title is "speedo repair". It may provide some help and there are a few links to more detailed info. Good luck!
The B+ and 94 used the same speedo. I have a B and it has the same speedo as the small one in the picture. I am pretty sure the 99 Toad uses the same, or very similar speedo. They are both stamped with the same ratio at the bottom of the speedo face.
Although no book can be considered absolutely authoritative, Ken Smith's book, Hodaka: The Complete Story of America's Favorite Trailbike is remarkably well researched and complete. Ken, on page 63, describes a major enhancement of the Ace 100B+ (beginning frame number A51013) over the Ace 100B to be the addition of the larger speedo with a trip meter. Furthermore, if one looks at the exploded parts diagrams under the "shop by schematics" tab on the SH website, you will see that the part number of the speedometer body of the Ace 100B+ has an added "A" (929311A vs. 929311 for the B model) at the end of the part number and that the diagram of the B+ speedo clearly shows the trip meter reset knob as opposed to the Ace 100B. This is the same speedo as installed on the model 94 and 94A Wombat. There, I've now satiated my OCD jones.
Having numerous old Hodaka books to reference. I want to share an observation that the Ace 100 92B started with serial number A51013, and used speedometer 929311A. As shown in the Hodaka parts usage book July 1971. The 100B+ frame started with A67613 This is also covered on page 62 of Ken Smiths book "HODAKA" -------Clarence
Excellent information, Clarence. Do you know if the speedo for the 99 Road Toad (PN 999311) is interchangeable? I have a 94 Wombat that was MX'd in its previous life that I'd like to make dual purpose. The Toad speedo looks nearly the same. Thanks!
FYI. The Toad speedo does not have the red dot high beam indicator light built in like the Wombats did. It is in the dash pod on the model 99. . i think the hole may be there but it is blacked out for Toad applications. They will interchange.
Great info, Olddogs! I didn't think of the high beam indicator on the dash for the Toad. Now I have to brave the sleet storm and head down to the shed to take a close look at my spare Toad speedo to see if I can uncover the high beam indicator. Darn, another trip to the shed .
Just so you can see the difference, the top is my stock Toad Speedo & the bottom is my B+ speedo. There's a high beam indicator on the Ace which isn't on the Toad. And yes, those are original mileages! ; D Victor
No. The drive nut which mates the cable to the bottom of the speedo is smaller on the Ace,larger on the Toad. If you use a Toad speedo you'll need a Toad speedo cable. But the nutcat the wheel is the same size. ; D Victor
I checked out my spare Toad speedo. No brights indicator lamp. Maybe the smartest move is to keep lookout for a B+ or 94 Wombat speedo. Keep it simple as they say. Thanks fellas.
The "nuts" on the speedometer cables that allow the cable to mate to the drive unit are all the same size. The same goes for the "nut" that allows the cable to mate to the bottom of the speedometer these nuts are all the same also.
There is a difference between the nut size for the drive unit and the speedometer though.
The only difference with Hodaka speedometer cables are the length and the color (gray or black).
Meaning that you can screw a short gray Ace 90 Speedometer cable to a Toad or 250 Speedometer.
Hey Paul! Thanks for weighing in. Do you have a 94 Wombat speedo drive unit? I'm redoing one which was MX'd and the drive unit was replaced with a blank spacer.
Paul. I tried that with my Model 99 and it was a no go. But when I think about it, it may have just been that the Ace speedo cable isn't long enough to reach??? Hard to remember. But the Toad & Ace do use different cables. ; D Victor
Victor the Ace 90/Ace100 (68'/69') speedometer cables are gray and shorter.
The Ace 100 B and B+ as well as the 1972 Wombat (94) are all the same length and are also gray.
The 1973 (94A) Wombat, 1976 (03) Wombat, Road Toads (99 &02) are also the same length as the Ace 100B ,B+ and (94) Wombat but these cables are black.
So to answer your question there are two different length "Ace" cables as you posted. The Ace 100B and Ace 100 B+ cables will fit your Road Toad application.
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