The Hodaka Club Forum

Hi I'm new to the group and I have a 71 super rat, my question is can I bore out the stock head? Snd if so what should i bore it too just to clean it up and where would i acquire a piston and rings? Thanks

You'll need to bore the cylinder not the head. You won't know how much to bore until you measure the cylinder. Check with : Hodaka-parts.com, they should be able to help with all of your needs.

That's what I meant sorry and I didn't know If there was just standard bore sizes

If the piston or the bore are worn you'll need to oversize it. And bore it to size of the new piston + clearances. Best left to the pro's. What part of the country are you in?

East coast I can take the cylinder to a shop and get it bored out I just dont know a whole lot about these bikes, the rings went and it messed the cylinder up pretty good but nothing crazy I just would like to have a little more information avout getting a piston and rings for this bike thank you!!!!!!

Any quality shop will measure the current bore, assess damage, determine the next overbore that will perfect the bore, and perform the machining to match a new piston with the allowed clearance. Thrownchain has offered great advice. Leave it to a pro. You will end up with a bolt-on and go top end.

That's what I'm after lol I just wanted to see where to get a piston and rings for this bike sorry I dont know more about this bike but I guess it's just like a modern 2 stroke

I would send it to a Hodaka specialist and have the work done. California Hodaka, Hodaka Parts.

Sounds expensive lol there's got to be someone out there who sells a top end kit for a super rat

I used to work for PABATCO/Hodaka, and have three running bikes and a couple of "parts pile" bikes in the garage. Here is what I would do if I were in your position . . . and why.

I would contact one of the expert Hodaka service providers/parts providers and make arrangements to send in my cylinder for inspection/boring/new piston, rings and piston pin.

. . . and here is why:
-- The Hodaka expert is already set up to bore your Hodaka cylinder properly without jury-rigging anything to get the job done.
-- The Hodaka expert most likely has an array of pistons on hand (or immediately available), so the bore can be precision sized to the proper clearance for the actual piston which will be used. Consider this, your local boring shop (who has likely never even seen a Hodaka cylinder) measures the existing bore and determines that it is currently .010" oversize - and then guesstimates that the bore "might" clean up at .020" oversize, but that he might have to go to the .030" oversize -- he just can't be sure till he does the job. Do you purchase TWO piston sets before you even start? Or do you just send it to the documented Hodaka experts (and all around good guys) who will supply the proper piston (and only the proper piston) for your cylinder?

So that is why I (me, personally) ALWAYS send my cylinders for boring to one of the recommended Hodaka experts. I recommend that you do that too.

Ed

Yea and what's a job like that usually cost a guy?
Thanks!!!

It's been a while since I ordered a bore job - like, years. So, A) I can't remember the cost way back then, and, B) cost has probably changed, so, C) ya'll should probably contact one of the Hodaka experts for current information.
Ed

Well I guess I'll just wait for the right person to give me the answer I wanna hear LOL but I really appreciate the quick responses and help but I'm more wanting to do the job my self as far as taking it to a shop and installing the piston and rings my self but thank!!!!

Piston & Rings, $200. Bore work, $100. Gaskets not included. Shipping not included.

That'll put you in the ball park.

From what I know, it only goes up from there.

Sort of in for a penny, in for a pound kind of thing.

I mean does anyone think that I could take the cylinder to a reputable machine shop and have them bore it? Is there a 105cc piston kit? I'm sorry that I dont know much about what I'm talking about LOL

There is the standard size and then 10 thousands, 20 , 30 and 40. Don't worry about cc! I would stick with the smallest piston I could. I would sure hope you could get a piston and ring for well under $200.00 ?? I would have a shop bore it that deals in small engine bore. If you are not sure of what you need, send it to one of the recommended shops they will know what specks to use. What state are you in? -------------Clarence

That's what I thought but I dont know and I'm from Delaware I have access to a good machine shop I just dont know where I would get specific piston and rings for this bike and I'm not worried about ccs I just want it in good running order

Type in Hodaka Parts Inc Missouri you will find it, and as stated there are many others. At a cost of about $25.00 to ship it, I would use one of the recommended best. -------Clarence

Thanks!!!!!

Something to consider. Everyone who has posted has provided essentially the same advice. These guys have an amazing amount of experience with these bikes. You can most likely get a good job done locally. It will be a little more work sourcing parts some you will have to have it measured and then start the search for the right parts. Or have the shop do it. However the have probably never looked for a super rat piston. If you call Terry at Hodaka-Parts or Hodaka Dave Rozier or Greg/Diane Watkins, you are going to have a great experience, make new friends, and get the absolute best service for your money. They are going to be competitive with their pricing and you won't have to do anything except wait by the mailbox for your early Christmas present. It doesn't get much better than that.

Just checked at Hodaka-Parts. $219.95. Your cylinder bored to match a new piston which is included. Not surprisingly the address to send your cylinder is to Hodaka Dave's shop. That's teamwork

Thanks guys

$220, that's a good solid number.

Add some to-and-from-shipping, head gasket, base gasket, intake manifold gasket, exhaust gasket, maybe a new O ring at the carb & you're in well below the $300 plus I guessed.

Money left over for a new sparkplug too!

Ok lol not so bad one more question what information are they gonna need is there a special badge on the engine somewhere?

A couple things you can do before you go any further. Confirm you have a Super Rat cylinder.Many Hodakas were owner modified to keep them running years after parts dried up. Your jug should have 4 studs holding on the intake flange, the Ace 100 uses 2. Clean the top of your piston off with solvent or a gentle scraping. No stamping numbers on top mean is standard. look for 10, 20 ,30 or 40. Sending out a cylinder with no room left for a larger piston would be a waste of shipping dollars.

A lot of these were also parked away and forgotten when the points failed or the shift cover needed adjustment. I find many with standard bores because people just gave up on them.