The Hodaka Club Forum

Here is the piston from my 03 I got from the original owner. No marking on top that I could find. I wonder why it ate the bottom of the skirt? The rest looked good.
Here's a couple pics from the parts bike I bought last summer. No oil tank was on it when I got it. I bet that was fun when it went. This piston has a 0 on top what size would that be?

Such markings mean nothing to you. Factory used them for matching to cylinders. Should be standard (not oversized).
Bob

If it was indeed run with premixed gas only, then it was starved for lubrication on the left crank bearing. Possibly leading to destruction?
The 03 Wombat is the only Hodaka motor that requires a modification to the case to provide oil access to this bearing when you eliminate the oil injection system.

A couple of comments:

I think Bob was thinking of the ink markings which were stamped on standard pistons at the factory to aid in matching exact piston sizes with exact cylinder bores when he made his comment. The ink stamping on a standard piston gets burned off in no time - but the "size class" stamp in the cylinder head gasket deck is there for life - and became utterly useless as soon as the bike left the factory.

Markings stamped into the metal of the piston usually do indicate size . . . but a single "0" seems odd. I don't have a batch of factory standard pistons to look at, so I'm not sure - but I thought they had no size stamp at all. And if they did, I'd expect the stamping to be "00" or "000". But I'm just speculating on this. Is there another number so lightly stamped that it is all but gone now?

All my stock of over-size ART (OEM) Hodaka pistons have either 2-digit or 3-digit size stampings. Examples: "20" or "020".
Ed

Captain. Is it just me, or is there an upside down 2 on the left of the Zero in the photo of the piston top? When I hold it turned over, it looks like it says 02. See enlargement and 180* rotation below. Victor

I can see what you see, but I can't verify a number, could be an 8 if you look at it right. Measure it and compare to stock specs.

If you let your mind wander a little it looks like Wilson from the Castaway movie.....

Pretty hard to tell whether that is the remnant of a number . . . or of Wilson . . .

All of the OEM pistons I have on hand show the stamped oversize designation reading correctly with arrow up (ie, if the arrow is considered to be pointing forward/up/to the top of the page - the numbers read correctly)

Methinks a measurement of the piston is the only way to determine its size (which might then aid the discernment on um, Wilson).

Ed

I agree with Ed, no matter whom manf. the piston, and there where several, they all did things diff, under test circumstances, one should not rely on marking alone, they sometimes are not there for whatever reason. I might suggest take the cylinder to a machine shop and have it measured, that way you know exactly what direction to proceed. Don,t guess. there are to many times one brand or items where replaced in the life of the bike. Then once measured take the suggestions from the manual, hope you have one or follow the advice of an expert like ED, and make the proper drilling and porting that applies to your use and engine. Please follow their advice. Bruce Young

if i may interject . it looks like a Q and the engine numbers for the 03's start with a Q so could that be the marking for that piston to go in that engine . please excuse my lack of knowledge in this mater i was just thinking ....albert

I thought it might be an interesting discussion.
I know nothing about the history of the parts bike, but the other one belonged to a friend. I got it from his dad, been sitting in the family barn since 1978. He broke the shift housing and never looked at it again. I was hoping it might be an easy fix. Haha, not so much. But his dad didn't think I could get it going and I'm looking forward to the day I ride it to his house.
I don't have the tools to get any exact measurements, I'm just going to send it to the experts!
Start on the bottom ends tonight. Parts bike had ice in the crank case but when I pulled the clutch cover it's clean. My friends bike on the other hand which I know has been indoors is rusty. Go figure.
I'm having fun and tax returns are just around the corner.
Maybe.

In fact I'm having so much fun I'm building a little workshop for my bike projects.

Dale Dvorak, or Ron Liddle, contact this person and get together and help him get this project going, Gary, these two persons are in your area and can really help you. Welcome to the Hodaka World. Bruce Young

Thanks Bruce.
I got to meet both of them at Hodaka Days. Got to talk to Ron about my SC engine. I put it on the back burner for now since the insides we're grenaded. I'm hoping to split these tonight and see what's what. After that it's the saving game.

Gary, you are doing the right thing, take it slow and ask or see experts, In the long run it can save money and headaches. Good luck and keep us posted. Bruce Young

Hello welding expert.
This is from my friends bike.

Wow! I'd be interested to know how that one happened. Looks like its time to search out a new case half, probably be easier than welding it up... however, a weld bead across a case looks pretty cool and chick dig scars

Bev

Gary, no need for welding, I have some cases, and half,s as well but need to know model of bike and its frame number to make sure of what is needed, reasonable prices. Bruce Young

Bev,
This bike belonged to a friend. He bought it new when he was about 13. Wanted a CR125 but his dad made him buy the Hodaka from a local dealer. I got it from his dad. Dad told me the shifter was broken and then lost. I don't know how he did it either but like any kid he was hard on stuff. He was as fast on this as my brother on his 77 CR125.
Bruce,
I may take you up on that if I can't get this repaired. Even if it it would be less expensive I want to keep as original as possible and ride it to his dad's house and say "told you I could get it fixed"

Some fun work tonight. A little polishing goes a long way
The inside is really clean

03 #3
Delivered this morning! First looks this appears to be in great shape!
Now the fun continues!

Here’s a question. Are the Model 02 RT & Model 03 Wombat rear fenders the same item with different color paint? Just asking because I have at least 1 spare RT rear fender. Victor

Very likely

Thanks! I needed that! Victor

Need me to take some pictures of both?