The Hodaka Club Forum

I recently picked up an ACE 90 engine. There are no 'Hodaka' markings on the R or L cases, only smooth area. When did the 90's start having 'Hodaka' on the sides? The serial # is P14573. Can we tell year of production or just general time of manufacture.

According to the chart I saved down from Bruce’s website, there were 17,380 Ace 90 motors between 1964 & 1967. So I’m guessing, and it’s only a guess, that motors in the 14K number range were probably late 1965 or early 1966 motors, but that’s just a guess. It’s a guess because I don’t know for sure and it’s been stated that motors were not installed sequentially in frames. So it’s possible motors could have been produced early on and just randomly stuck in frames as the frames came along. For what it’s worth....

Maybe Captain Ed can advise more specifically or some of the guys who were dealers and handled the Ace 90 motors when the bikes were new? Victor

I guess I am one of many that grew up around the ace 90's. I am here to say, the ace 90 motor went thru a lot of changes during those years. They were compared to the rear engine Volkswagen. But back in the day when I went to the Hodaka Days show and shine, I always looked for ace 90 motors that had cylinder heads that were at an angle. That cylinder head meant to me that it was an early motor and possibly that head was a left over Yamagouchi supply part. Someone else would have to verify if that head a Yamagouchi part but I have always suspected it because all of a sudden, a different style emerged.

The cases with no lettering were left over Yamauchi parts. They used them until they ran out and then started with the cases labeled ACE90 and HODAKA. If you check the inner cases, you may find some differences, if it is truly is an early engine using Yamauchi parts from inventory.

I'm not sure stating to use the parts made after the arrangement with PABATCO with the Hodaka labeling constituted an "official" change and it may have never been recorded. It was probably just some guy assembling the bike and starting to use a new box of parts.

Gregg

MT. I have found several engines with smooth side case, I understood that those where for the early ACE 90 bikes I have an eng., in an early machine under frame number 100 that has the cases info turned off them. Those case where the cross over pasts from Fuji/Yamaguchi era. When then the engines we being built by Hodaka Eng, but where using some parts from other early eng Manf. why yours set is on a letter eng number sequence is anybody's guess. Smooth side cases where it seems parts that where in the system, how long of time no-one knows exactly. Answer info or paperwork was destroyed a long time ago when Pabatco closed up. Best I can do. But if you want to trade for regular marked ACE 90 cases let me know. Bruce Young 1--208--571--2823


I would be interested in seeing pictures of engine.

A couple of broken head fins .

Where????

Where????

One in front of the plug and one behind have part of the fin missing.

I really had to look twice to see it! Victor

my question is can you putting a 125cc piston and cylinder from a hodaka wombat engine.

No you can not, way too many differences to even think it,

There was a Wiseco 125 upgrade kit for the Aces. They required a little bit of case modification, but are extremely rare to find. And it’s been said the reed valving & tuning the 100 would make a faster, more reliable motor anyway. At least that’s what I’ve read here.

The Wombat 125 cylinder studs are further apart than the Ace 100. Victor

The studs are bigger and spaced farther apart. The cylinder spigot is bigger around. The exhaust placement will be different as will the carb and air filter assembly .

I only knew of a Webco 125cc upgrade for the ace 100. ------------------Clarence

Here here, Clarence. There is a cool article in the HPI library detailing that hop-up kit and a performance review. Impressive. I imagine one would have to possess mad welding/milling/wrenching skills to fit a stock 125cc head on an Ace 90 block. Knowing what I know about Hodaka guys, I'm sure its been done.

the ace 90 had a racing head available from hodaka it was later used on the super rat. -------------Clarence