The Hodaka Club Forum

For those not on Facebook. Max has been rummaging around the neighborhood barns and discovered some treasures and next projects. Check out this 1971 Ace 100B+ that has just emerged from decades of darkness to be re-born! Catchy name for the project, a nice ring to it I thought, Maximum B+ Project. Explanatory. This will be fun, I'll try to keep you posted! Maxie

Glad to see your project on the forum for all to see and enjoy.
My first "new" motorcycle was a B+. I loved it and that model will always be my favorite Hodaka.
Dale

Great score, Maxie. The Ace looks nearly complete. The Wombat looks like it was set up for enduro work. I can't wait to see the rebirthing process underway! Your smile really speaks volumes. Congrats!

PS- That Ace looks waaaaayeeee too nice as a core builder for one of your projects. Where's the Partridge Family-themed gas tank??

as my tin foil hat keeps me from participating in facebook really glad to see your project here. now i can see how an expert does it...albert

I'm with you Albert. I'm not a Facebooker either and this forum is a lot more fun when Maxie is here!

I, on the other hand, do both the forum and FB. It’s nice to see you’re documenting in both places!
Best of luck Maxie and continue to keep us posted!

Maxie has stated this is going to be his personal, dual purpose Hodaka since it has all the lights needed to be street legal. So he can ride this one on the street!

Keep up the good work Maxie! Victor

I do not do FB either.

That Ace is so nice I’m not sure I would even wash it. Get it mechanically good and leave as much of the “barn” as possible on it.

I just started my first Hodaka project. It is a 1971 B+ in similar condition. I'm having trouble getting spark. I did get one good spark but none after. I just keep going over available information and re checking. Reading this post and seeing one in tact gives me a renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

Hey thanks Gang! First step, the exploded view. Not as nice as it looks but a good specimen to work with. Typical 47 year-old bike that has that oil/dust concrete-like stuff plus rust. This will have to be addressed down to the last bolt. A beginning here. Exciting even! Maxie

Glad you posted on here Max. I saw it on FB but could not comment cause I’m not a member just a lurker. It will be fun to see it progress with your commentary and pics.

Cool Maxie. It even has the pump. Does it work? Great start!!

Cool Maxie. Even has the pump. Does it work? Great start!! What's the dope on the Wombat?

PS- clearly I don't know how to edit a post.

Hey Matt. Well the pump hisses, haven't really tried it on a tire. The Wombat. Three actually, in varying stages from this one to a boat anchor with no engine. I did find a Combat Wombat cylinder, carb and head In the pile. Could be an interesting 125 project with lights and performance. Lotsa options but rode hard and put away wet. Still pondering and sorting but the 100b+ is best and with title. Actually two of these to either make one one cool one and maybe another trail bike. Stay tuned, so to speak! Maxie

Fun, fun, and more fun! What a score. I didn't see the buddy seat on the B+ in the first picture. The CW parts are a great bonus and certainly opens a few doors for the Wombat project. You tunneled into a pretty rich seam there Maxie! I do hope you favor us with some "thinking out loud" as you go through the prerequisite inventory and planning process. I always get great insight from your method of deciding which way to go with these bikes. One wonders now many more of these forgotten machines are slumbering away in the back of a barn waiting for someone with your skills and passion to breathe a new and better life into them. Great stuff, Maxie. Looking forward to riding along on your next adventure.

Thanks Matt! One thing I don't have is a street legal Hodaka. This B+ project could fill that void. On the bland side this could be restored to a near mint example but there many fine examples existing. I always saw Hodakas as base units, a start to a personalized modified machine that expresses the true meaning of motorcycling and fun. No rules. I'm starting to see this with bright red paint and shiny chrome tank but with useful mods of the time and some uniqueness to set it apart from stock. Some ideas involve things like a Webco head, abbreviated lighting, cool aluminum skid plate and aggressive tires. Maybe something exhaust wise. Even a two-bolt GEM reed set up with 24mm carb could be in the picture. All bolt on stuff that changes out either direction. Classic useful mods of the time. All conjecture at this point and standard refurb is the plan for the moment. Looks like a fun project! Maxie

The B+ is my favorite Hodaka. I turned my B into a mild trials bike and it is fun but... it’s a real hoot just cow trailing through the woods so I’m going to put it back to mostly original. The title with yours makes it really cool !

Well Maxie, you are sure carrying on in the finest tradition of Hodaka builders/modifiers. I think the tradition is a result of the fact that Hodaka motorcycles are great to begin with. That's why we never find ourselves lined up next to a really cool works Carabella. No matter which direction you go, you end up with either an awesome B+ or the sky's the limit custom Ace. Those are nice decisions to have to make, huh? Excitedly following (and thinking about the Ace roller I have in the shed)

Just a DPO one I've not seen before. After 47 years, maybe I should peek inside this engine and refresh the seals. Visually, not counting external crud, this looks to be a fairly low mileage engine that's never been opened. Wrong. All looks fine but someone's been in here as the clutch side crankcase seal is in backwards. Crank is fine, standard bore, needing a piston. I'll put new seals and bearings in the crankcase for a fresh start. Report. Maxie

Max, this should not come as a surprise to anyone, engines and bikes that look untouched, only upon closer inspection, like you say "someone had been there before" and with little knowledge or know how, tried to make things work, its the "vintage Hodaka Way" and I am sure other machines as well. With little resources, owners did their best to enjoy the experience, right or wrong, and it take,s an expert like yourself to note the error. Thanks for being there and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Maxie. When are we going to see those cleaned fender & tank pics??? Curious minds want to know!!! Victor

Ah ha. Now I see what is happening. This metal automotive seal was used by the PO. Looks like it was working except for some extra void in the crankcase. One I've not seen before! I'll put that on the list of discovered anomalies in rebuilding. Was it still backwards?

If it is a double lip seal, I don't think it would matter which way it is installed, other than as you noted more of a void area in the crankcase area. As long as the metal side didn't rub against any moving parts.

Interesting find, Maxie. The ID of that seal looks waaaaayyyyee out of round like it has been machined. Is the crank OK?

I think that is the result of being pried out of the case.

Duh! Thanks for clearing that up, Dirty. Heck, there's the pry bar right there in the picture.