The Hodaka Club Forum

I’m torn between leaving the old battle scars and redoing the air cleaner cover. Just not sure. Opinions? Victor

I like it as is. I would maybe give it a satin clear coat or maybe just a good wipe down with some WD every once in a while.

Its cool and original.

kinda tells a story all by its self, looks good

If you're gonna ride it leave it, or clear coat it.

Victor. I think I'd clean it up and then decide. If you are going to restore the whole bike I personally would redo the air cleaner to make the whole new package. Just me, not into patina. Personal choice, your bike, you asked! Maxie

I would leave it as is. A Combat Wombat should have combat scars.

Brian

It is only original once...

I would do whatever the owner would like. To me restored is restored, if I did redo the air cleaner I would bring it to restored condition (just talking about the air cleaner). ---------------Clarence

Well it seems you all are falling in line with my first decision! To clean & just clear coat it.

I tried the Naval Jelly on the air cleaner cover, hoping it would remove what I thought was the rust stains at the top of the cover. But evidently, it wasn’t rust. None of it budged.

So I have cleaned the remainder of it with the Naval Jelly and she is going to stay as she is now, with a clear coat over the top so she doesn’t rust again in the areas missing paint.

I am not doing a frame off Factory Resto on her. I am going to repaint the frame because there are too many areas where the paint is gone & rust is showing thru. I also need to weld the bracket inside the air cleaner cover. This will cause paint damage to the cover & it’s also faded & chalking. So the black box will get repainted. Victor

PS: I cleared it as is. I’m happy with it. Later on, I may decide to repaint the entire cover. But for now, cleared with her battle scars showing!

I also got the first coat of high heat paint on the pipe today! It was a long goodbye to the turquoise tune! Here’s a couple of pics! Went with a low gloss black. Victor

Keep an eye out for another cover, restore that one.