The Hodaka Club Forum

Right on Matt. The original owners were friends of my parents, the desendents carry-on. First name bases on both sides. One employee delivered plants on her way home that my wife was waiting on to arrive. The employees are friendly, fun and helpful. It goes on and on, other businesses should take notes. Did I mention metric fasteners?

Max

Oh yeah, Max. And grease zerks, bushings, rubber washers, you name it. A whole wall full of pull-out drawers with billions and billions of everything you need. Awesome. And you never have to go to aisle 95a in building 6 to find what you need. My favorite checkout gal is Angel. Very sassy and always has a "joke of the day" for me. I was moping around the store last week after an all-night hellish call and Bev took one look at me, said "you look like 10 miles of bad road" and brought me a cup of coffee from their break room. Heaven!

. . . and my wife and I joke about the folks at my local Ace Hardware store cueing up the theme song from Cheers when I walk in. Good place!
Ed

OK, the brake stay rod is corrected! All that's left is to put oil in the crankcase, buff the tank & apply the graphics, re-I stall the seat and yes, fill the tank with fuel!

I'm going to read thru the Wombat carb setup again so I can try to get the carb close enough to have the bike start! I already adjusted the air screw to 1.5 turns out. Need to adjust the idle screw properly. It has the 160 main jet, 39 pilot jet and the stock needle & slide with the clip in the 3rd position for stock. It may be a little rich for this elevation of 7,000 feet, so we'll have to see how she does! Smoke tomorrow!!! Victor

I, too, have purchased many a fastener at Ace Hardware. They have such a wide selection and since the FastenAll store closed here well over a year ago, they are a go to store for me. Though further away than Lowes, I know the metric fasteners at Lowes are limited. So it's another 8 minutes down the road to Ace. I've even found things which have been substitutes! I found rubber bushings which fit snuggly into the tank mounts! They work well, were inexpensive and in plentiful supply! Bolts, nuts, washers, all purchased in quantity because I knew I would use them. There's still some specialty items you have to buy only from a Hodaka supplier, but Ace is a Great Place!!! Victor

One more ACE story. My favorite one actually. I restored a Yamaha XS-650 a few years ago and it needed multiple bolts and two grommets to re-fit the headlight shell. I drove 60 miles to see what the Yamaha shop had. They could order the two grommets for something like $56. Back to ACE for even better grommets along with all new stainless steel allen head bolts (Lookin' cool!) with all washers and also cool lock nuts all for $10.60. Whatta deal! Not only that, I was greeted by the nice desk ladies by name! Check it out! Also check out the reflections in the photo as it was shot in my favorite bike row.

I also should mention that I try to buy all my original parts from Paul, but for custom work and getting parts and advice to get the sink drain operational, again ACE is the place.

Maxie

PS--Thanks Victor, for allowing another Hi-jack of your post!

Hijacks make the threads more interesting & entertaining Max! Been busy today. Guitar class for 3 hours & now picking up the grandsons after school! Be home in a while! Victor

OK. Trying to start the Red Toad. I pulled the battery from the Ace and installed it as an afterthought.

I checked the plug for spark and the test is positive. I can see the plug spark.

At first I was seeing the fuel not wanting to flow through the in line filter. So I removed the filter temporarily and straight tubes it to the carb. So I know fuel is getting to the bowl because I watched it slowly fill the bowl & then top off the fuel line.

I did pull the carb completely apart, making sure all the Jets, pilot, main & needle, were clean. Also sprayed heavily through all orifices and pulled the choke and it needed a new O ring, which it now has. Seems like fuel isn't making it to the cylinder is my guess.

The intake has the original reeds in it and they seemed fine, making good contact with the reed holder, so I don't think there are any air leaks from the reeds.

What's next to check? I will pull the carb and check the float bowl to make sure it has fuel & make sure the float needle is operating correctly. It appeared to be in fine, usable shape when I cleaned and inspected carb.

So any other tips will be appreciated. This is my first, greenhorn attempt with starting the motor & working with reed valves. Is there anything special I should be checking? Spark is confirmed. Victor

There is always the country way. I would take it outside, Check to see if the spark plug is wet or dry. If dry Put a table spoon of gas down the spark plug hole, put the plug in and crank it over key on. If it does not run check the point gap. How is the compression. I put a little oil on everything when I assemble a engine. Sometimes I squirt a little gas from a oil can into the carburetor. And I have a screwdriver handy if I have to pull the spark plug wire off. -----------Clarence

Spark plug was dry. Going to drip some fuel inside as you suggested. If it hiccups, I'll know it's not getting fuel. Victor

It is always a thrill to hear a engine run for the first time. -------Clarence

Yes! I still need to hear this one though! If was cold and rainy today and I had too many other things to do. And it's supposed to marginally snow tonight as well. Come on Spring! End this Winter layover ! Victor

Max. I took a moment to view this post on my laptop. Yes, some, but not all, of the photos from my iPhone appear to be turned in my posts. It seems if I use the square format and post them, they are right side up, most, but not all the time. The vertical rectangular images were flipped sometimes 90* and sometimes 180* but I don't know the rhyme or reason for it. So, I am sorry that the images come through that way, but my laptop is old Windows 7 unit and worn out. So I don't use it much any more. In fact, while I was typing this message, the laptop just shut down on me without warning. Thankfully the Firefox browser recovered the first part of this message so I didn't have to type it again! Victor

Victor the pictures are not a problem at this end. If I click on the picture it enlarges it and turns it right side up. -----Clarence

Good to know Clarence! Victor

OK. New report. Poured some fuel mix into the cylinder and she pops! Pulled the carb and there was a bowl full of fuel. When I inverted the carb it drained out.

So this issue is the fuel is not making it from the carb into the cylinder, I believe. It will pop for 2 or 3 strokes when I pour a tablespoon of fuel in with the choke on, but I just can't get it to start and run.

So, just for grins & giggles I'm going to check the points one more time and see if it's just a timing issue. According to my discussion with Danny, if it has a bit of fuel poured in, it should run for a second or 2 and it's not. But I did see a little bit of blue smoke come out of the pipe. Wish me luck! Victor

Hi guys Just for shits and giggles I went out and looked at my wombats and they have the brake swiches still mounted on the bikes. I only looked at the rear brake because we still have snow. Iam going to drag the best one out put in the shop and start stripping it for parts you need. Let me know what you need.
MTRob

Parts for me? I'm just about done with my Toads. If you have turn signals I need a full set of front & rear & an extra set of fronts! Victor

Victor when trying to start with the choke on don't give it throttle. When you prime don't choke it but give it just a little throttle. Make sure the plug is dry.-------------- Clarence

Got interrupted again today! It's my granddaughter's 2nd birthday party! Getting a lot done, just not on the bike! Here she is with her Nana! Victor

Clearly a wild child. Lucky guy.

Thank you Jack! She's a whirling dervish! Victor

viclioce wrote:Parts for me? I'm just about done with my Toads. If you have turn signals I need a full set of front & rear & an extra set of fronts! Victor

these are 94 wombats not the 94A with the turn signals ,I took the turn signals for my 94A. Buy the why victor I have a new set of off brand turn singnals brand new, has all four lights red and yellow Black, Mounts on Hodakas bars has the flasher and the turn signal swith for the hadlebars. If interested email me I'll take pictures [email protected]
MTRob

OK. The problem appears to be points. I've tried adjusting them twice. I'm getting an almost start now even just pushing the kickstart lever by hand. Had to stop because it was Birthday time for my 2 year old granddaughter. Victor

Ok, one more Ace Hardware tale. (another hi-jack, but relevant). I went to Ace Hardware this morning and the original guy that started our local store, who is over 90 and still works everyday, greeted me as usual. We had our usual brief exchange as we have done most of my life. I told him about the Forum's discussion about the people and service of Ace and asked him if that was a condition of the franchise that they be so helpful and friendly." No", he said, "That's how you stay in business." Wow!, Customer Service. What a concept! People wanting our business in this day and age should take note!

Maxie