The Hodaka Club Forum

Hey all, Here's the current scoop. '66 Ace 90. Engine recently overhauled with new seals, bearings, new piston/rings on a fresh 2nd overbore. Carb dismantled/cleaned. Stock jets/adjustments. Leak down test confirms air-tight engine. New points/condenser. Balls-on timing. Pipe is clean. New, lightly-oiled air filter. It has gone through three heat cycles. The bike starts right up and idles great. Smooth transition through all carburetor rev ranges. In short, it runs like a top. Then, out of the blue, I will pull up to a stop and at idle, it simply dies. Always at idle. It will not restart. This happens if I've been riding for three or thirty minutes so I don't think its a condenser overheating issue. The plug color looks a perfect medium tan, but it is ever so slightly wet with fuel (NOT oil-fouled). I thought it was loading up so I tried roll-starting it down a long hill with the petcocks off, ignition on, and throttle wide open with no luck. Then I replace the plug and the whole process repeats itself. I, as always, appreciate any suggestions regarding what stone to tip over in search of the culprit.

Sounds like an ignition fault of some sort. Time for some VOM work, close inspection of connectors and spark plug cap. Mayhaps an inch-by-inch inspection of wires . . . liberal use of a biggify-er lens . . . etc.

Good call, Captain. I forgot to mention that I trimmed the (original) high-tension lead and installed a new and more secure spark plug cap. The original cap spun freely on the lead. VOM and biggify-er lens in hand, its off to the land of the nitty gritty for me. I'll report. Thanks Captain!

A wet fouled plug will not spark, If it runs with a new plug and repeats itself, I would think carb. But did I read everything correctly? --------------------- Clarence

Hi Clarence. Yes, I went through the carb with a fine tooth comb. All in stock trim currently. Thank you.