The Hodaka Club Forum

Absolutely on all points!

“In the racing years we cut the slide ourselves. Just made it happen. ----- Clarence”

Question. Wouldn’t a 2.5 slide have a higher angled cut away than a 1.5? If so, I don’t see how you could “grind “ it, or cut a 2.5 slide to a 1.5. I’m guessing you could change the angle of the bottom of the slide, but. Wouldn’t that make the entire slide shorter and allow even more air thru the Venturi?

Are the slides for the flange mount older 28mm carbs the same diameter as the slides in the replacement 28mm? I may have a 1.5 slide for an older 28mm. I’ll have to measure the diameter. Let me know what size diameter the slide is for the newer 28mm carb.

I used a 26mm Toad/03 carb with my reeded Wombat Combat! Especially since Captain Ed stated the 26mm spigot carb moves fuel more efficiently than the 28mm flange mount. I jetted the carb to the 03 Wombat specs and this bike really moves! Great throttle response and it picks the wheel up in every gear!!! Victor

The number of the slide indicates the amount of the cut. So no, there is no way to transform a 2.5 to a 1.5.

My learning curve must be going backwards. What is the amount of cut measured in? Could I transform a 1.5 slide into a 2.5 slide? In the day I only raced a ace90. It ran the best with a 1 and 3/16 inch AMAL monobloc carburetor probably off a 650 triumph. I did well in the IESRA, Inland Empire Sports Riders Association and the MSMRA Montana Sports Motorcycle Riders Association. To me the tuning was critical, especially between zero and 1/8 throttle and then 1/8 to 1/4. It was fun beating the big boys on the roads, trails and in the hills. Many came and bought a hodaka. I think it was turning about 12,000 RPM. ---------------- Clarence

Cutting a 1.5 slide to make it a 2.0 or 2.5 is pretty easy. As mentioned, make a new mark at "X" distance above the highest point of the existing "cut-away". Then summon up all the old-world craftsmanship you can muster when using a large file to file away some material. Make sure that the point where the angle of the cut-away meets the horizontal bottom of the slide STAYS EXACTLY WHERE IT IS.

However, modifying a 2.5 slide into a 2.0 or 1.5 is considerably more problematic. I've "richened" slides by taking material off the bottom of the slide on the horizontal plane . . . then "restored" the angle of the "cut-away" to meet the new horizontal plane where it should. But this is NOT recommended because several other things get tweeked at the same time. The needle now drops lower - so you'll have to raise the needle just to get back to where your needle adustment was. Your throttle cable will need adjusting too. Annnnnnd, your idle speed is gonna go bonkers. So "richening" a slide is sort of, kind of, "do-able" . . . but it is not a good plan.

Vic, I think you are going to have to document what you are saying I said about 26mm spigot mount carbs vs. 28mm flange mount carbs. I don't think I said that (and I don't think it is true). With the possible exception of suggesting something along the lines of smaller carbs providing better mileage than larger carbs (and therefore offering higher "efficiency").
Ed

Here is a simple diagram on how to file the slide to increase the cut-away. This is from a Hodaka "Hot Tip". The cut-away, on Mikuni carbs is determined by the millimeters it extends up from the bottom of the slide, ie. a 2.0 slide would be 2 mm's.

Dale wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 9:11 am We will be anxious to hear your progress.
I do keep good notes but then have to remember to look at them!
My notes showed that I had also tested 2.0 and 1.0 slides. The 1.5 was the ticket.

Got back from our trip a few days ago and started tinkering with the Combat Wombat again. Tried the 2.0 slide and it made a little difference but still wouldn't run. I found a 1.5 slide at Niche Cycle on ebay and ordered it express. I put it in today and that was what it needed. Runs like it should now. I have the needle raised all the way up and a #30 pilot with a 190 main. It seems pretty good all the way through the power band now but I will probably experiment with a bigger main until I get it dialed in. I can do that now that it runs.

Thanks for the help Dale and everyone else too. MYSTERY SOLVED!

That is awesome! Glad that got you closer to making that bike run like it should. Please keep us posted.

Good to hear it is running. If it were mine I would change the jet needle or the needle jet so I would end up with the clip in the middle. This would give me a quick adjustment for elevation ect. The words experimenting with a bigger jet just scares me. Many new motors have been ruined checking for performance rather than tuned by the book or following a professional process. In the day their Was a hodaka dealer in many towns and racers that were as good as any at tuning, attending races across the land, and they would help you. Today you are the dealer the racer, rider and tuner. You all have brought back many beautiful hodaka's that we admire. Good Job MYSTERY SOLVED. ------- Clarence .