The Hodaka Club Forum

I'm gonna try posting a couple of photos here, I've done it once a while back with some kick starter questions, hopefully I will remember how to do it.

This is a '76 and I bought it up here in 1993 from a young guy who lived nearby. He said his dad (a Canadian snow bird at one time) bought it in Arizona brand new (I think) as a commuter vehicle for shopping, etc. between the mobile home park where he wintered and the nearest town. I'm not sure if was ever registered up here. It has only 1100 miles on it and I don't think has seen much sun in its life despite being in Arizona for a while. Still has the original Nitto tires which at least look "like new" if 41 year-old tires can be described that way.

I fired it up for the first time in 24 years a couple of weeks ago and have had more than a lot of help from a number of forum guys here on this site. It's not insured or registered so I haven't really been able to take it out for much of a spin, just up and down the block a few times (and I have a cranky neighbor). I weaned it off using both pre-mix and injector oil this morning and it runs really nice with just the injector oil. I'm now using #1 premium gas with no alcohol which is available up here at Shell stations. Clutch seems to work good (I think) but I have some issues with cable free play (none) and will probably remove a shim or two to get that fixed up. I've been posting questions on that this past week and have got a ton of good advice and help. My wife is a bit antsy about me getting back into motorbikes, I rode street bikes for years until 2013 when I decided then (at 67 years of age) to give it up. Anyways, here's a look at what I have ...

Beautiful bike, Mike. I really like the "coffin tank". My '75 Road Toad has the traditionally-shaped Hodaka tank (which is also cool). Your bike looks pristine. Good score!

Looks new to me.

For what it is worth, shims are used to set clutch arm free play. Cable free play is set with cable adjusters on either end of the cable. Don't set cable (hand lever) free play with shims. If the clutch arm is set correctly and has just a bit of free play, like in the 1/8" to 3/32" range with the cable detached, that is set correctly for purposes of adjusting the clutch, and unless you flog your bike, you may never have to adjust the shims again. Cable free play should be accountable within the range of the end adjusters on the cable, and if the cable won't adjust correctly within those two adjusters, I would suspect the cable itself. Anyway, cables do stretch in use. If you set the cable using the internal shims, you will quickly be doing it again as the cable stretches.

Hi Jack, well that's what I meant to say I guess .... ie there is no free play at the clutch arm (at the clutch cover location) where it enters the cover.

No free play at all suggests that your clutch might slip..(which it does, right?)...because if the side cover/pressure piece contacts the throw out bearing before the side cover gasket surfaces meet, tightening the side cover screws actually presses the clutch somewhat, same as if you squeezed the lever partially while riding.

The nice thing about a Hodaka is that once you get all the bits and pieces sorted out, you can ride it for a long time without doing much. Simple and durable. If you can't get it registered in your Province, mail it to me.

Hi from northern Ontario...that Toad looks very nice! That's a model I'd like to own someday. Hope you can register and insure it and have some fun riding it.
Ken

I'd say concourse resto material there except they are so fun to ride, I couldn't stand making it a trailer queen. I really wish mine had the 18" rear/21" front arrangement rather than the 17"/19" setup on the "75 edition. The 18"/21" configuration is what all my race bikes run and I like it better for trailing too. Nice!

Mine is a year older than yours. But I sure love the Toad color!!! Is also what made my grandson want a Road Toad! Yours looks great! Victor

Don't think I've even heard of anyone with a Toad here in Oz