The Hodaka Club Forum

I have been working on a project (BITSA) bike for my grandkids to learn to ride. It's a model 92 Ace 100 without any lighting. It will have a high front fender, a model 93 Super Rat fuel tank, seat and gearing (straight cut primary). The exhaust pipe is from an Ace 100 B+. The roller is now complete. The seat (fiberglass seat pan) is at the upholstery shop. Next up is pipe fitment and cleanup. Here is a picture of the pipe test fitment and then the bbq. Two stroke smoke, it's what's for dinner!

Dale! Gotta love that pipe BBQ surrounded by snow! It shows great intestinal fortitude for the cold! What paint are you going to use for the pipe? And don’t forget some Naval Jelly for the rust clean up! Victor

viclioce wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 6:11 am Dale! Gotta love that pipe BBQ surrounded by snow! It shows great intestinal fortitude for the cold! What paint are you going to use for the pipe? And don’t forget some Naval Jelly for the rust clean up! Victor

The pipe will get some brushing, sanding and a crack repaired then treated with my favorite brand of naval jelly, Krud Kutter Must for Rust gel.
Then painted with PJ1 Fast Black 1500 degree.

Update on my patina build. It is now complete with the exception of the seat which is still a work in progress. This one will work for the break-in period. Making the best of my time in isolation...

Great looking bike, Dale. And zippy too, I'd bet.

Looks really nice Dale, nice work !

Ddvorak,

Wow! You made a hell of a lot of progress is a short time. Great job! Those kids are gonna have a blast and look really cool doing it too I'm glad to see that other's are keeping positive during these uncertain times. Thanks for sharing too, keeps my mind focused on more positive things too. Also, I've been on the fence about buying one of those chain tensioners from Amazon, how's the quality?

Bev

TheBevman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 01, 2020 5:03 am Ddvorak,

Wow! You made a hell of a lot of progress is a short time. Great job! Those kids are gonna have a blast and look really cool doing it too I'm glad to see that other's are keeping positive during these uncertain times. Thanks for sharing too, keeps my mind focused on more positive things too. Also, I've been on the fence about buying one of those chain tensioners from Amazon, how's the quality?

Bev

Bev,
Thanks. Keeping busy is important!
As for the chain tensioner, they do work. Quality is iffy at best but I have used 4 or 5 and none have failed. I would say they are well worth the $10 to $15 that they cost on Ebay. I would not run them on a race bike or anything ridden hard.

Note that they are not designed for round swingarms but state that you can shim them to work. I wouldn't trust that, but found that if you place a bolt through the swingarm passenger foot peg hole, of the correct length, the head and nut will fall under the tensioners mounting bolts and it then tightens down very securely.

Ddvorak,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you pointed out that you used a bolt to assist the tensioner's clamp, I would never have caught that. My kids tear up the local hills with their '68 Ace and at the end of the day the chain really wants to start wearing into the frame above the swing-arm. Having one of those little guys keeping tension would be cheap insurance from that or a tossed chain. I've built case saves for all my Hodies but IMHO a bit more prevention isn't a bad thing.

Here's to staying sane and healthy.

Bev

My first attempt of posting a video...
Started the motor for the first time yesterday. Always fun but a little nerve racking!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhJTbGS8eRM

Sounds good, nice job Dale ! I really like my Ace 100.

Sounds great Dale! And now I have a face to the name!!! Victor

Trying to find the positives during this extended isolation...

The grandkids BITSA bike is now complete and ready to ride.
Built from bits of;
92 Ace 100 Frame, forks and motor.
92 Ace 100 B+ Exhaust pipe, wheels and shocks.
93 Super Rat Straight cut primary gear, fuel tank and seat.
But wait! If the grandkids get a cool red and chrome motorcycle then surely grandad should get a new red and chrome one too! A grandad's BITSA bike.
Built from bits of;
That rusty 94 Wombat frame that had been hanging in the rafters
The exhaust pipe that came from ???
95 Combat Wombat motor that was beat up and thrown in a box, in pieces, who knows how many years ago.
95 Combat Wombat mud catchers that had been beat up horribly at some point.
95 Combat Wombat fuel tank and had a failed Kreem liner in it and now has a fresh Caswell liner installed.
(What a task it was to get that Kreem liner cleaned out!)

Beautiful Dale. Is it a conicidence Grandfather's bike has the poofier Ace seat?

PS- how did you get ther Creem out of the tank? I have a DS/CW tank that is full of the stuff. I'm a Caswell fan as well.

matt glascock wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 8:26 am Beautiful Dale. Is it a conicidence Grandfather's bike has the poofier Ace seat?

PS- how did you get ther Creem out of the tank? I have a DS/CW tank that is full of the stuff. I'm a Caswell fan as well.

Thanks Matt. The seat on mine is actually a very firm and very tall seat custom made for me. Not the most attractive on a Hodaka but gives me the elevation that I really need.

As for the Kreem removal, I started with the recommended (by Caswell) paint stripper containing methylene chloride. Oh what a total mess that made! I won't do that again. After the paint stripper I flushed the tank and then filled it to the brim with 2 gallons of Acetone. I checked it daily and it took 4 days to dissolve most the remaining Kreem. I drained it and added a pint of clean Acetone and several handfuls of misc screws and small bolts. Shook and shook and shook some more. Drained that and pressure washed it.

Best advice that I can give would be to never use the Kreem product. It works great until it doesn't and then you have a mess!

now thats a great grandfather.....albert

The photos seem to show a bit of development on the Husqdaka seat. It seems to have evolved to slightly overlap the rear of tank. That configuration is great! Really good for sliding forward in the MX corners without pain (when the brain remembers to do that) AND in addition to the extra cushioning while sitting - the extra height is wayee helpful for the transition from sitting to standing. NICE scoot!
Ed

givergas wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 11:51 am now thats a great grandfather.....albert

Bullfrog wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:16 pm The photos seem to show a bit of development on the Husqdaka seat. It seems to have evolved to slightly overlap the rear of tank. That configuration is great! Really good for sliding forward in the MX corners without pain (when the brain remembers to do that) AND in addition to the extra cushioning while sitting - the extra height is wayee helpful for the transition from sitting to standing. NICE scoot!
Ed

Thanks Ed. Function over fashion is my motto.