The Hodaka Club Forum

Drove from Olympia, Washington to Lincoln City, Oregon to get this today. Spent more on gas than I did for the bike. Temperature in Olympia at 5:30am when we left was 14 degrees with about 12” of snow on the ground. Arrived in Lincoln City at 9:30 to find sunshine and 41 degrees on the beautiful Oregon Coast. Heavy blowing snow for the last 60 miles on the way home but we made it fine.
Anyway about the bike. The Craig’s List said “1972 Ace 90” called the owner and he didn’t know much about the bike. I decided to go ahead and make the trek and have a look. Made the deal and loaded it up.

Frame No. B-70310. Model 93B ??
Engine No. P-11011. ???

The engine is a 90cc but what what it came from I don’t know..

Does anyone recognize the pipe? Looks a lot like a Torque Engineering pipe I had on an old Yamaha DT 250.

The tank looks better on the inside than it does on the outside.

Not sure what I have here, trash or treasure?

I’m guessing the frame is a Super Rat frame? Starting with B-7xxxx. Terry’s lists don’t seem to list ending numbers. That’s why I say “guessing.” But the B frame looks like a second edition Rat frame if the numbers you posted are accurate. Not sure either about the P- motor you have. The numbers are too low to be a Dirt Squirt. But, nice find! Victor

Treasure. I think the pipe is a T.E. Whispering Smith. Cool performance upgrade and pretty quiet compared to the "Competition Only" line which will effectively remove the fillings of anyone within 50 feet of the outlet. Great score!

According to Bruce's ID chart, B-703## is a 1972, Ace 100mx, model 93B. Build a rider out of it, or update the motor and restore it.

That’s what I thought too! Thanks for the confirmation!
What do you think that P-11011 motor is? Is it a middle engine number 90? Victor

I have confirmed it is a 90cc motor. It turns over but has some serious grinding going on inside.
I have this 100 “E” motor in the little Indian. It needs a complete overhaul but might be worthwhile. I have a trade worked out for the rest of the Indian.

Let me know if you don’t want to keep that pipe on the Ace 90! :ugeek:Victor

Would you be doing your own rebuild? I'd upgrade to the E motor. Makes more sense than to do the 90,

If the serial # doesn’t convince you, the larger frame gussets should, that its a 93B frame. These gussets were enhanced for the 93B only, for the chrome tank SR’s. The gussets I speak of are where the swing arm bushings are installed. Compare to an earlier SR to understand.

I’m convinced it’s a 93B frame.
Found a couple of unfortunate issues though.
The steering stops have been hacked up and it looks like the rear frame loop may have been shortened.

Victor, I will hang on to everything for now until I decide what I am going to do with this gem.

Your pipe is a Torque Engineering. Here's a picture of one I have, the remnants of the Torque sticker still in place. The other pipe in the pic is a Bassani, for reference. Nice find!
Andy

Thrown,
I have had Ron Liddle do 3 engines for me now. He has done a fantastic job for a reasonable price and he is just a nice guy. One of my favorite things about Hodaka is the people.

We are a friendly and helpful bunch.

Well it’s been a few days since I picked up the little Rat and since we have been pretty much snow bound I have had lots of time to get acquainted with the Rat. What I’m finding is that a lot is not original. Obviously the 90cc motor. Has a 21” front wheel, rear wheel is the older 4 bolt non cushion type. Shocks are not original but seem to work ok. Stock air box is missing. The tank is correct, chrome is in rough shape but the inside is nice. The fork tubes are badly pitted and not usable.

So I have decided to make a rider out of it. Rebuild the 100 “E” motor. I already have a correct rear wheel. Use the Ace 100 pipe that can be seen in the picture of the little Indian. I have an extra set of 94 Wombat forks that are in decent shape that look like they will work.
I would like to find a Rat air box but not for $600. For now I can use the Ace 100 can type.
Fenders?? I have a set of silver plastic fenders that I bought for another project but never used.
Plus all the little stuff that I’ll need: throttle, levers, cables, tires, sprockets & chain.....

Should I use the 21” front wheel or find a 19”??

Should be a fun journey.

I’ll keep you posted and be looking for advice along the way.

You'll want the 21" front wheel if you plan on riding anything other than street and extremely light trails. The air boxes are getting extremely rare but keep looking. Every so often you'll find a beater you can rebuild/refinish. I'm wondering if you could substitute the relatively easy to come by Wombat, Dirt Squirt, or Road Toad box. You would have to weld up the aperture for the air snorkel on some, and it wouldn't be correct. It would have "the look" if you painted and decaled it. There might a little light fab work to make it happen. Someone here much smarter than me will reveal the adaptability of these alternative air boxes. I imagine the trick will be fitting a backing plate and the possible need to customize the air boot. I don't know these details. I do, however, have a Dremel.

Man I wished that lived out west. You guys always have Hodakas available to buy and for good prices. Here in Florida there is never anything, and on the rare chance that there is, they want a fortune. I always browse the internet but all the deals are always out west. You guys got it made.

Your 93B is about the 100th one built. The 93B started with frame #70213. ---------Clarence

Off to a good start. Got this done this morning. Surprisingly beneath the crusty exterior it’s in good condition. No broken bolts. Everything greased as it should be.
Next I will compile a list, two actually, one for parts needed to make a rider and another “wish list” for parts to make it correct.

I believe those handlebars are rare. They were on early model Superrats, I had a Rat with them and didn’t think they were Hodaka’s. Then Tommy Croft saw the bike and had to have it as it was the same as he had as a kid, I didn’t believe him about the handlebars. I then went to his house a there was a poster of him on his SR as a kid with those same bars.

SoCal,
That’s a great story. The bars are straight but the chrome has some pitting. I plan to use them. Maybe someday it would be worthwhile to have them re-chromed.

93B forks and 93A/94/94A/95/96(92C) forks were all the same part # 938751 938752. So you have the correct forks if you use the forks from the 94.

$0.02

Roger

Examined the seat today. Not much metal left here. Beyond repair at least for my skills and tools. The recent postings on seat pans was very helpful. The search is on. HPI shows not on stock. I sent Terry an email request.

Still waiting for the snow to melt off here so I can get the frame outside for pressure washing and bead blasting to get it ready for paint.
Meanwhile I tried to get the “E” motor apart to see what I have. Could not get the cylinder off. It was frozen when I got it last summer. At that time I pulled the head and filled the cylinder with marvel oil. After about an hour of applying heat and brute strength I could not get it to budge.
I called a friend of mine for advice and his advice was “come over and get the motor I have in the attic”
It is a “P” motor with a 93 top end and carburetor.
The shifter plunger had been broken off in shipping. I have a good shifter case left over from another project.
Significant up and down play in the rod at the crankshaft. Someone with a big wrench got carried away on the carburetor. The studs are bent and carburetor flange is visibly bent.
It has a .040 piston in it and looks to be in need of a bore job. Looking on HPI the largest piston they offer is a .040. What are my options here? Can this be bored bigger? Are bigger pistons available? I would like to use this motor if I can.

The intake manifold should be useable with new studs. It gets that way when someone tried to use a bigger carb than the studs are spaced for, a fairly common issue. I don't think the manifold is bent.

Also I'd take the E motor off your hands if you decide not to use it.