Hodaka ACE90 ACE100 Condenser

[Joe Ormonde]

Time to throw out some more Condenser Part Numbers for Hodaka. Ready? OK. Here we go. Honda 30250-001-024. Honda 30250-001-013. Honda 30250-001-104. Honda started using the same Condenser in 1959 that Hodaka did starting with the ACE90. Sudco Part Number is 617-009. Kawasaki used them too! Kawasaki Part Number 21013-001. Sudco Part Number is 617-604. Hope this helps! Joe Ormonde.

[bobwhitman]

Joe/others
Good stuff for a Resonator piece. Can you send me any others that have been posted?
Bob
[email protected]

[Joe Ormonde]

I`m fairly certain that these Part Numbers are it for now. Back in the Pre-Internet days they had Parts Specialists with tons of books. Things have changed! They could go to their parts books and crossover Points and Condensers with no problem. Breaker Points are another item. Terry at HPI has them in stock so listing all those part numbers would take sales away from him. I can`t do that. Hodaka had the Super Rat. Honda had the Super Cub. Same Condenser. 1959 Honda Super Cub! Some sellers on EBAY are asking nearly $50.00 for a Super Cub Condenser. Incredible. Joe.

[bobwhitman]

Joe/All
I agree, must not take sales from Terry, he’s our guy! BUT, for stuff he doesn’t offer, be nice to have a source of cross references.
I use items like inexpensive levers, mirrors & such from Parts Unlimited, etc. ,where not doing a restoration. Bill used to carry “generics” like UFO fenders which I no longer see on Terry’s site. Seems like there might be an opportunity there. I’ll ask Terry

[HodakaBill]

Hi!

Thanks for this information. I'm looking to move my condenser on my Ace100B+. What kind of performance issues would you see with a bad condenser? I've had a "bad" condenser cause the lose of spark when the condenser gets warm and the motor just dies. Then, once the condenser cools it will work again and I can start the motor. But, would a bad condenser cause performance issues and still allow the motor to run?

[bobwhitman]

I’ve not noticed any problem... until it dies, cool down then restart.

[Bruce Young]

Hello fellow club members; I want to bring out a couple of points that relate to this post, 1st it has been brought to my attention that many of the condensers being imported today, come apart, and tops come off when soldering, Our Hodaka parts supplier Hodaka-Parts inc and others are trying to find proper built condensers. Question have you had any issues like this??
#2, be careful with import condensers not being of proper diameter, there are two sizes, that where used on diff models.
#3 Yes the condenser if left in its original factory location will carry a lot of heat and may fail with age.
#4 best way to mount condenser is under the tank, with proper grounding being done and extra length wiring used, to wire from points to condenser. There are wiring info avail to use and follow.
#5 The wiring leads from upper coil to spark plug should always be checked, they do seporate and cause poor spark.
#6 if installing points make sure proper insulation washer are put back in place, if not then there will show no spark.
#7 Thanks for all the info on this, lots of good info there. Use it.
Bruce Young Idahopartsideaho.

[Joe Ormonde]

It all comes down to what you are willing to pay. You can get the exact condenser Hodaka used with the Grey Plastic for $42.99 on EBAY or 12.95 for the Honda #30250-001-024 sealed with Black Rubber. Personally , I like how Honda mounted the Condenser on the MT250 Elsinore: on the Coil. Guys in this site have copied what Honda did with no problems. I however kinda sorta like to put things back where they came from. Joe.

[Bruce Young]

Joe, I understand that the original type condensers have been available from other brands of machines, and if that is the way you wish to go, that's OK, but many of the condensers out there from other countries being made today do not have the same quality. Be careful, one more thing, there are Hodaka people that do not use e-bay and just go down to a local shop and buy a condenser that looked like it would work, but some of the import products out there again are not of same quality. Just be careful, of what you buy. Make sure its the same quality as one that has lasted over 40years in use. Bruce

[viclioce]

Bruce. Another consideration is a condenser which doesn’t last 40 years, but is available & works, is better than no condenser at all. I just bought 2 same style condensers on eBay for $17 shipped. If they work for a couple of years, while Terry figures out a supplier of good quality condensers, that’s better than waiting until he finds a good resource, however long that takes. Bikes won’t run without a condenser. Just a thought.... Victor

[Joe Ormonde]

I just finished assembling 7 Stator Plates: 3 for Model 93, 4 for Model 92. That`s why I Posted some Parts Numbers. The only way to find out if the Condensers are up to par is to try them. OEM Honda And Kawasaki Condensers are EVERY bit as good as the ones installed by Hodaka. Sorta like Wiseco Pistons Kits. The Rings, Pin and Rod Bearing are mostly Japanese now. I just got a Condenser in the mail for a Honda C100 and the sealed bag is Stamped MADE IN JAPAN. $9.70 Has a wire to remove but that`s quite simple. Import Parts? I think that applies to Japanese Parts too. Joe.

[dirty_rat]

To answer HodakaBill, yes a bad condener will cause performance problems, even while the bike is still running. The main problem, as you noted, is that you get intermittent spark (or lack of any spark once the condenser gets hot). A bad condenser will also cause the points to burn and pit, thus giving poor performance. Once the points are burned/pitted, even a new condenser won't return top performance. You will need to file/polish the points (if not in too bad of condition) or replace to regain full performance.

[HodakaBill]

Thanks dirt_rat! (love that screen name by the way ...)

I was experiencing poor performance from just off idle to WFO. It started and idled great. I thought it was a carb tuning issue and was pulling my hair out trying to tune the carb.

I found the points pitted and burned. So, I replaced both points and condenser, took a short spin last night and it seems to be problem solved. Runs great now. More testing needed though ....