The Hodaka Club Forum

Yep. That is what I see. As the line on the flywheel passes the mark on the case to the right the points start to open. And they are reaching .013 as it gets to the left notch on the case. So this is why I'm going to swap out stators and see if it's not firing every time the points open. This stator was thought to be a known good, but it came from Danny & even he is having doubts. So I'm going to change it out with a "known good" and see if it makes a difference. At least then, I can eliminate a possible unknown, and move on if it isn't the issue. Victor

How many times have you poured fuel down the cylinder? If you are getting it loaded up down there it cannot or will not run. Pull the plug and kick it over briskly, if it spits out a spray you can see it is flooded. If it has a spray coming out turn the gas off and kick it over until the spray stops coming out then try it with a fresh clean plug, wet fouled plugs will not fire. If you have good spark at the plug it is working.-----Clarence

. . . and be careful about making sparks if kicking it over with the spark plug out is spraying fuel . . .

What model of Road Toad is listed and shown in your manual? The cover of the manual says which model it is for. Model 99 has the traditional Hodaka tank shape. Model 02 has the newer style "V" shape at the front in the side view.

Yeah. Looking at the pictures inside I see a tank with badges. Didn't have a cover, starts with Page 2. So it's the Model 99 Owners Manual. So why is there a difference? But it seems irrelevant at this point, or at least I think it may be when I swap out stators. Victor

Vic,

Don't worry about jetting until it runs. Compression at 110 is too low and may be so low that it won't idle even if it does start. Compression should be 150+. The old specs were 155-170 psi. Try squirting a shot of motor oil in the spark hole and then repeat the compression test. If pressure jumps up, the rings are leaking. On a fresh rebuild you should have a lot more than 110 psi.

Setting timing has been covered above, and they are correct about the "time" it fires versus the point gap itself. The 0.013 gap is a ballpark number intended only to get you in the right area. It is the timing, not the gap, you are setting, so focus on the timing event. Use an electrical or electronic device to identify point break if you have something to use (like an analog ohm meter or old AM radio set to between stations static.) My guess is that your stator is fine or it wouldn't spark at all.

Have you done a leak down test on the cylinder? I would be much more concerned about low compression at this point than timing the spark. With compression as low as 110 you may have to push start the engine rather than kick start.

One diagnostic trick is to give s shot of (ether) starting fluid into the (open throttle) intake or into the air cleaner. If there is any spark it will start. Even with no fuel the engine will run for a few seconds.

In addition to compression test you will want to run a pressure test on a new engine. I think that a pressure test is the most important routine or diagnostic test on a 2-stroke engine.

I would run a pressure test if I was equipped for it, but I'm not. Victor

With the fleet you are managing . . . it might be time to get equipped for pressure testing.
Ed

Well, maybe so. But right now the issue is more than likely spark. Either intermittent or not strong enough. My back is hurting me again so I'm laying low for a few days to give it a break. If it doesn't recover in the next day or 2, off to the Dr. I go. My lower lumbar is all fused from osteophyte bridging (arthritis) so I may need an injection. It's been about 5 years since I last needed one. Victor

If you have a good solid spark when kicking it over while looking at the plug and it isn't intermittent. I am going to say you have spark. -----Clarence

Problem is you can have spark outside the cylinder and not have strong enough spark or intermittent spark while under compression. But I have to rule it out. Simply switching to a known good will tell me that. It could be a bad condenser or it could be stator windings shorting intermittently. Nothing else explains an occasional firing while under compression other than a bad condenser or bad stator. So Danny is having me test it this way to rule out or determine if it runs with a known good. Pretty logical to me. Victor

Here is hoping it works. If you weren't so far away I would come over and start it for you this afternoon. ------Clarence

Can you check the spark from both bikes in the dark? If they look the same they probably are good. ---Clarence

viclioce wrote:Problem is you can have spark outside the cylinder and not have strong enough spark or intermittent spark while under compression. : Victor

Not at the compression levels you have. It takes very high pressure and very high revs to blow out a spark. Your outside the cylinder test will show you what spark you get inside. If, as you say, you have 110 psi you don't have enough pressure to run.

I keep waiting for the good news that you are up and running? Any updates ---------------Clarence

No. I through out my back last Thursday and haven't gotten back to the garage yet. Still taking pain killers & muscle relaxers. And my nephew just broke his arm to boot, so I can't even talk him through it. Soon....very soon! Victor

Back is finally getting better! I'm hoping to get to the stator on the Red Toad tomorrow. If it fires up, I can move forward. If it doesn't, then I'll recheck the reeds and the carb. Hoping it's the stator and a swap will move me forward! Victor

Leaving in 12 days for Colorado! Lots of riding in the mountains! Leading a group from my "other forum." Too bad it overlaps with Hodaka Days again. Maybe I'll get there next year.

That Bad Rock Ride looks like it could be fun! How many miles is it? Is it an all day event? Is there any place folks stop for lunch along the way or is it more like a hare & hounds race? Ride till your done? Just curious. I've watched some video excepts, but they are never the entire race. Victor

Victor the Bad Rock Ride is about 40 miles. Some folks call it a cake walk I say it is a reflection of a nice mini cross country lots of trails, old roads, ruts, creek crossings, nice grades a few step hills and a steep down hill section. Very scenic it is not a race and not meant to be one. Some can go fast but need to watch out for the beginners and us old guys. If it is wet it is very slippery with a few bogs nothing but fun on nice day. Hey is the old scooter up and running yet?----------Clarence

Victor the Bad Rock Ride is about 40 miles. Some folks call it a cake walk I say it is a reflection of a nice mini cross country lots of trails, old roads, ruts, creek crossings, nice grades a few step hills and a steep down hill section. Very scenic it is not a race and not meant to be one. Some can go fast but need to watch out for the beginners and us old guys. If it is wet it is very slippery with a few bogs nothing but fun on nice day. Hey is the old scooter up and running yet?----------Clarence

No. I dealt with my back issues and now I'm getting ready for my trip. I leave on Sunday and come back next Saturday night. Had to also deal with some PITA issues with my 1500 to get it ready. Now I'll get back to it when I return. My nephew also broke his hand or wrist. So he hasn't been around either. Victor

I need to get back to work on this Red Toad! Cracked a rib riding into a gas station up in Colorado. Still in lifting restrictions. Hopefully, I can get back to it soon..... Victor

Victor are you up and atit yet? ----------Clarence

Clarence. I'm moving again. But I haven't been inspired to sit on my heat box of a garage. It's been 90+ heat every day. The garage was s usually about 10* warmer than outside temps because of its flat metal roof. Sometimes we've even have to run the air conditioner at night, which is a rarity around here! Hoping the July rains start soon and cool things off! But I'm guessing this isn't the Summer for that kind of weather. It's been unusually hot all over the country! Victor

Today it's raining! Something we haven seen here in about 2 months!!! Victor