First photo try ..... kick lever ....

[Alberta Mike]

OK, I'm going to try to post a couple of pictures of my kick start lever in two positions. Looks like they posted in a different order but you'll see what I mean. In the bottom photo, the lever is is the UP position and is resting against the rubber bumper (and held there by the return spring). In the top photo, the lever is being held down with a strap in the READY TO START position and is just engaging the inside mechanism that turns the engine over. So in the top photo, it is just slightly below horizontal. When finished the kick, the lever makes contact with the foot peg and can go no further. Does this bottom photo lever position look low as a starting point for the kick? This is my concern, ie the full distance of the kick doesn't seem to be all that much.

[viclioce]

Is this your Road Toad? It looks like it has the wrong kick start lever on it. Below is a photo of one of a Model 99 with the kick start. The one I have has a different shape to it and that may be part of your problem. Is your Toad a Model 99 or a Model 02? The Model 02 has the straight kick start but the Model 99's have the curved kickstart. Which Model Road Toad do you have? Victor

[Alberta Mike]

Hi Victor ..... I didn't realize there were more than one model of Road Toad 100. Mine is identical to the bottom photo with the straight kick start lever so a model 02 I guess. My serial number starts with the letter L if that means anything, I believe it is a 1976 but that's from a memory that is fading a bit. No question though, the second photo above is the one I have and that is exactly how it looks when at the top at rest against the rubber bumper and the lever tucked in under the exhaust silencer/expansion chamber.

Out of curiosity, what are the differences between the model 99's and the model 02's? Was one newer than the other? Looks like for sure the tanks are different and the tank decal as well, that's one thing I can see in the two photos you posted. Plus the engine color, black vs silver. Is one of the kick start designs supposed to be better than the other do you think?

[matt glascock]

The 02 Road Toad was the newer of the two incarnations of the Road Toad. The differences that come to mind include changing to the "coffin" tank, changing the front/rear wheels from 18/17 inch to 21/19, elimination of the black painted engine, hubs, and handle bars on the 02, improved jetting on the 02, and the kick crank design.

[RichardMott]

I copied this photo of a Road Toad from the Hodaka Fan Club Facebook page to show the kicker in its proper home folded position.

[attachment=0]15391086_10154786280844395_4322253832109373328_n.jpg

[Alberta Mike]

Yes Rick, that photo you posted above would appear to be the "99" model (from info gained here on the site) ..... this link below has a photo from the internet of what mine looks like, ie the straight kick start lever on a 1976 model 02 Road Toad. Actually, at rest (up position), mine sits exactly like this photo in the link below ..... it just seems to start grabbing slightly less than horizontal after moving the lever down though which I think gives limited travel. Anyways, here's the link, not sure if will show up as a direct link or one you have to cut and paste ...

https://www.bikepics.com/pictures/27235 ... d-toad-100

[RichardMott]

I don't know what else to say except to try doing the case removal routine to get better indexing to get the spring relaxed to minimum.
On my WomAce with the 03 motor, I have this folding kicker. Works great. You shouldn't need a lot of rotation to start a properly tuned Hodaka.

Ace frame, 03 125 Motor

[Bullfrog]

There will be no change to the kick start lever position by going through the process of removing the clutch cover and kick start lever and then re-installing per the procedures described.

If the engine is in proper tune (good spark plug, clean points, properly timed, good fuel) I've seen folks demonstrate starting the Road Toad by using their hand to stroke the kick start lever. It seems to me that you may have focused more on how the lever looks and how far it travels than is useful. The real question is, "Does it start easily?" If not, check the ignition and fuel stuff mentioned above . . . the kick starter as shown works fine on hundreds of other Road Toads . . . and it should work fine on yours.
Ed

[Alberta Mike]

You're exactly right Bullfrog ...... get the thing running first, or at least try to get it running (after 25 years of sitting). I will eventually get back to the forum once I give that a try, it might be perfectly fine as it is. I am probably getting a bit ahead of myself with this kick lever starting position. Either way, lots of good advice here for sure when a guy needs some.

[Alberta Mike]

You're exactly right Bullfrog ...... get the thing running first, or at least try to get it running (after 25 years of sitting). I will eventually get back to the forum once I give that a try, it might be perfectly fine as it is. I am probably getting a bit ahead of myself with this kick lever starting position. Either way, lots of good advice here for sure when a guy needs some.

[Alberta Mike]

You're exactly right Bullfrog ...... get the thing running first, or at least try to get it running (after 25 years of sitting). I will eventually get back to the forum once I give that a try, it might be perfectly fine as it is. I am probably getting a bit ahead of myself with this kick lever starting position. Either way, lots of good advice here for sure when a guy needs some.