The Hodaka Club Forum

Can anybody, tell me how many different "Offical Hodaka workshop manuals" where printed and for what models, and does anyone have any for sale, I am not looking for owners manuals or parts list books. Bruce Young 1--208--571--2823

There was an inaugural official workshop manual that covered the Ace 90 followed by an updated official manual that covered Aces from 90 to B+ and Super Rat, and finally, an official workshop manual that covered both chrome tank iterations of the Wombat (94, 94a) as well as the Combat Wombat (95).

. . . and no Official Hodaka Workshop Manuals for any model produced after the model 95 Combat Wombat.

Thank You for info, I have all the early one 90 thru Rat, I guess I only do not have the last one for 94, 94A and 95, if anyone has knowledge of one for sale please let me know. Bruce

I only have a copy I got from StrictlyHodaka. If there are no copyright issues I would be happy to share. Terry?

Roger let me see what other replies come in if any, before I call you to get a copy, I will let you know that now I know you have a sample. Bruce

I would be interested in the latest version of the Hodaka service manual.

I have the reproduced Wombat Workshop Manual I purchased from SH. The material is copyrighted with all the stipulations regarding reproducing in part or whole, etc. in place from its original publication in 1977. I assume since at the time I purchased it, the Hodaka brand was under the ownership of Paul, his reproduction of copyrighted material he owned represents a "second printing" thus keeping the copyright in force. I'm not sure if Paul sold the Hodaka brand along with the inventory to Terry, but someone owns the Hodaka brand and copyrighted material, even from 1977, is too young to be in the public domain. Hopefully, the manuals will again be for sale, and at the $45 or so I paid for it, I assure you it was money well spent.

Originally the ace 90 was the primary manual and the others were supplements to it. --------------Clarence

Absolutely. When you get the manual that covers Ace 90 through Super Rat, the publishers essentially incorporated the supplemental manuals into one volume. I also have copies of the original supplements which were 3-hole punched to fit into the "Hodaka Service" ring binders.

Matt have you knowledge as to why they stopped publishing them for bikes after the 94-94A and 95, did they after that only send out service bulletins to the dealers to them up to date of changes, I also cannot find any modification charts being produced after those mentioned above. I have some of the supplements as well but again only went up to the 95. Can someone explain why they stoped publishing more service manuals. Bruce

I would think that Capt. Eddie, aka: "Bullfrog" would be the best person for that information as he assisted in writing some of the manuals.

Hey Bruce, I'm with D_R on that one. The Captain is the man to address your question for sure. I've pondered this exact question many times. My guess is that from the time of the Model 95 Combat Wombat, many significant changes across the model lines as well as the introduction of entirely new models took place. Reed valve induction, primary kick starting, big-bore engines, and oil injection just to name a few. By that time, things were getting very challenging for Hodaka. I've always figured that there was not enough sand in the top of the Hodaka hourglass to allow for publication of a new manual covering all the painted tank models - a very time consuming and labor intensive project with significant expense involved. The copyright date on my Wombat/CW manual is 1977 - roughly four years after the CW was discontinued and subsequently replaced by the Super Combat so it might have taken until the early 80's before publication of a manual for the painted tank models could have been accomplished. I do know a lot of information was transmitted through service bulletins and The Resonator. Oh Captain...?

OK. So I handle a few things in "real life" . . . then do a bit of review on production years and publication dates . . . then get on line . . . and Matt has already written up my answer pretty much as I was planning to do! Matt has illustrated a fine understanding of the situation wayeeee back when. As Matt mentioned, by the time of the publication of the 94/94A/95 manual (1977) - the sand in the hourglass was beginning to run out. So the task of creating the next generation of Official Hodaka Workshop Manuals just wasn't high enough on the priority list to be completed. While the reeds and oil injection were new, generally speaking, those new models were still marginally-adequately covered by the previous manuals. The lack of Workshop Manuals for the big-bore Hodies is the real bummer.

I'm sure I stole all that from your previous postings/musings on the subject, Captain. And I did it in a very authoritative fashion.

Thank you Ed and Max for we in the Hodaka World, thought might have been the reason for lack of additional publications by Athena Hodaka people. Having resided within the extensive Motorcycle Industry for the past 35 years, now retired, I have known of the many changes listed, not just with Hodaka but the entire motorcycle industry, it has been to say least interesting. Ed, one more question for those of us whom gather as much history and info on the Hodaka brand, is there a compiled index or list of how many and how long service bullitins and service, parts info was sent to dealers. It would be nice to know what was sent out and be able to see what we have collected, to know what we need to still look for more that might be out there? or have we all collected all that was published, and there is no more still out there. Bruce

One thing that many of you may not have run into, is that certain states (Washington is one) require a scale weight of a vehicle in order to get a valid Washington Title. Many states to not, so do not list it on their title paperwork.

In order to get a title for my son's Combat Wombat which came with a nice Idaho title (they don't list the weight) I took the service manual which listed all of the specifications (like weight). The nice lady took a copy of the page and we were good to go. For that bike a title was important, as in Washington, you can't get in-state OHV tags for your bike without a title. I can get an out of state sticker for most any state except the one I live in without a title . . . Goi figure.

Also, these bikes DO NOT EXIST in current vehicle databases for registration or obtaining insurance.

One of my plans for the new club site is a definitive listing of such data by model so that it is published somewhere for folks. Also, possible having the ability to provide a letter from the Club (as the ultimate authority) as to specs, etc that is needed in some areas. In a number of foreign countries, they need some sort of official document to prove when the bike was manufactured. All things the club would be able to do.

Terry has the specs for all models on his website under the Library link.

http://hodaka-parts.com/sub-category.asp?CID=1954

Excellent Gary. Just musing here, but wouldn't it be amazing if some day down the road the club site also featured pdf files of the workshop manuals, all service bulletins, original Resonators, sales brochures and ad materials? Paul did a remarkable job of compiling and publishing a lot of these items on the SH site and I can't imagine how much work would be involved. That fact certainly underscores his love and support of the brand. How awesome would it be if the ubiquitous phrase "get a workshop manual" on the forum was replaced by "go to page 76 of the Wombat Workshop Manual under the library drop down"? In other words, it would be unprecedented in the motorcycle world if literally everything ever published by Hodaka was available under one banner - our club?

Hello Hodaka World, had a very good conversation with Terry Larson, yesterday about whom holds the
Hodaka copy rights, and trademark paperwork now. Terry he has all the official info and paperwork, and would like to remind everyone whom might be reprinting or remaking products under the Hodaka brand, and SELLING Hodaka products, decals, manuals and etc., that one should contact him first. He is and with right, going to keep a close eye on infringements. But also suggested before you start a Hodaka project having anything to do with the Hodaka brand, contact him first, he is open to working with legit Hodaka people. Lets all take this info to heart. Bruce Young, we need to support Hodaka-parts inc, in Missouri, Terry Larson and help him with his dream of becoming the supplier of Hodaka branded items to us. Great Guy,

Matt Glascock's suggestion is brilliant.

Expanding the Hodaka Club membership is going to take thinking like this.

Guys that can get support like on line manuals are likely to be enticed to join.

Somebody worried that the PDF files would be pirated off? Okay. Some risk.

Better chance of getting a greater and more loyal following.

That new following is likely to bring more activity and business.

I'm willing to scan my Ace owners manual & Hodaka Workshop Manual to help some guys interested in keeping Hodaka going.

Take me a while to do it.

Somebody going to take me to court in the state of Ohio for giving away 50 year old repair manuals for free?

I'd be bringing them business.

Good thinking Matt! Wish I'd thought of it first.

Thank you, Al. You and I are on exactly the same page. I'm trying to think out of the box for the future of the brand. Folks like Paul, Bruce, Terry, the original Hodaka staff, and the amazing availability of Hodaka master mechanics have done an absolutely remarkable job of keeping the brand viable. And lets not forget the collaboration of all these people and Ken Smith in the production of the "Hodaka Bible". If one thinks this is no big deal, try going on line and asking questions directly from the original design board of Montessa, Ossa, Monarch, or (insert defunct motorcycle brand here) and have them respond to you immediately, directly, and for free. Never happen. Having a comprehensive, one-stop-shop for literally everything pertaining to Hodaka past, present, and future would, in my opinion, be a real enticement for future Hodaka addicts. Those of us who enjoyed these bikes in our youth are not getting any younger so unless we spend a little time thinking of ways to project an interest in these bikes into the future, we could be facing the same museum-piece future as many of the historical bikes that are sure fun to look at but beyond that, waste away in someone's man cave. We ride and race these machines routinely. I ride the crap out of my Hodies and don't feel bad about it either. When was the last time your gate dropped next to a guy on an AJS? Sure we could potentially be allowing someone who picked up a Hodaka basket access to protected information. I spend more time thinking about about the guy who takes the Ace 100 that has been buried and rotting away in the back of his old man's barn, joins the Hodaka club because the entire motorcycle world knows that in doing so, one is provided unfettered access to any- and everything associated with the brand including advice and expertise, and rebuilds it with his son and PRESTO - another Hodaka addict is born. Hodaka is way ahead of the curve compared to other brands because, as Harry Taylor points out, the main theme of everything Hodaka stands for is Fun and that has not changed over the decades thanks to the people I mentioned.

Matt and Al great ideas, but before you go to printing Hodaka manuals and other Hodaka items please take the time to contact Terry Larson as I did, he is open to talking and working with anyone whom wish to keep the brand alive, but even we understand and follow a few rules does not mean everyone will, just talk to Terry. Next on Terry's site as Rogar pointed out there is already an extensive collection of Hodaka printed info that is available to view, most of which was put together by Bill Cook when he owned the company, whom Terry bought. Most all the info you talk about is there already. Its the manuals that I ask that you talk to Terry about, he holds all trademarks and etc concerning Hodaka now and we all need to work together. Bruce Young

Oh, sorry Bruce. I was not clear. I'm not talking about bootlegging manuals. I'm referring to their publication as official documents in a comprehensive "members only" library of Hodaka manuals, literature, ads, bulletins, Resonators, Hot Tips, etc. on the club website. All legal matters would need to be sorted out well before anything like that could take place.

BTW, I've been on the Hodaka-Parts website recently and Terry has added an excellent library of Hodaka literature interestingly imbedded within the items under the "What's on Sale" drop down tab. Sweet!