Time for rings?

[toadroad88]

Hey guys - I got around to the compression test on the Road Toad last night and it was quite low unfortunately. I hit 100 psi on the initial test and bumped up to 110psi after a few drops of oil in the spark plug hole. I'm going to try and start with rings and cross my fingers for a 150 reading next time.

Looking on the hodaka-parts site I'm not seeing rings anywhere. I'm guessing one of the ring sets for the other bikes fits on the model 02 road toad? Can someone help me out with that?

It was fun seeing the neutral light turn green when kicking it over for the compression test. My goal is for my dad to be able to see his childhood bike ride again someday.

[Joe Ormonde]

The top ring is the same as the Super Rat. Ring #2 is hard to find. A Model 93 or 98 Reed Valve Piston will work just fine. Call Terry at HPI and he can supply you with what you need. Joe.

[viclioce]

Make sure you do The compression test with the throttle wide open as well. You have to let enough air in to compress it. Victor

[toadroad88]

Make sure you do The compression test with the throttle wide open as well. You have to let enough air in to compress it. Victor

Thanks Victor! I'll admit...the first time around I didn't but then remembered you had to. Unfortunately the 100psi was with the throttle wide open.

I'm learning (a lotttt) on this little project .

[viclioce]

Ahh , well then it sounds like it’s bore time to me. You want to get that up higher.

If you don’t have someone locally you can give the specifications to, then send the cylinder to Terry & Hodaka Dave. I did that with my Green Road Toad & Terry put a Reeded piston for a 93x Super RatIn it. She purrs at idle and barks when she takes off! Victor

[JPark]

I'm rather suspicious that anything would be worn much after so few miles. If it hasn't actually run for a long time I'd give a chance to reseat itself and blow the crud of time off the cylinder wall. 100 psi will get it running just fine. The second ring could be stuck in its groove.

I'd be very concerned about the oil pump being functional BEFORE starting it up. I like injection pumps, but I never assume that they are working. If you assume that, you will end up not liking oil pumps.

[toadroad88]

I'm rather suspicious that anything would be worn much after so few miles. If it hasn't actually run for a long time I'd give a chance to reseat itself and blow the crud of time off the cylinder wall. 100 psi will get it running just fine. The second ring could be stuck in its groove.

I'd be very concerned about the oil pump being functional BEFORE starting it up. I like injection pumps, but I never assume that they are working. If you assume that, you will end up not liking oil pumps.

I'm going to tear the top end apart soon and try to get a better look at things. I'm really hoping it just needs new rings. It's sitting right around 3200 miles but I have it on good authority from the previous owner (my dad) that it was ridden like a bat out of hell for 3199.9 of those miles . My goal, for now, is to get the thing running in a condition where I won't break stuff if I run it. I'm hoping not to spend $1000 having it bored and re-done otherwise it's probably going to sit in the corner of the garage for a while. My wife would kill me if the road toad got $1,000 before her "honey-do" list did!

I'm actually about 2 seconds from hitting send on another order from Terry that includes an oil pump delete kit. I'd rather just run mixed gas for the time being and have one less thing to worry about. Once about 2,902 other things are taken care of I might dive back into the world of oil injection.

[viclioce]

Well, you can run a Toad premix as well. I would do a premix and run the motor (when you can) and then check the pump for flow. I took the pump out of my Toads and blocked the space with Terry’s parts and run premix all the time because all my other bikes are premix. But you can make them work!

As far as the top end goes, pull the piston, clean the rings and their grooves, and check to make sure the ring gap is .011 or less. I think that’s the number I remember for them. And you should make sure the exhaust bridge is relieved .003 as well. I did the piston drilling below to assist in keeping the exhaust bridge cooler too! Victor

[Joe Ormonde]

All the parts and Bore job should be well under $300.00 Bucks. Otherwise you`re getting robbed. The only problem is finding Ring#2. I seriously doubt that the Cylinder needs a Bore. Take it to a Machine shop and they can tell you. Way too many cylinders get Bored when they don`t need to be. OK. Let me think back. I had my Super Rat Cylinder Bored in 1974. I replaced it in 2014. Why? I wanted to restore it back to Factory Original. It was Reed Valved now it`s not. The Factory Cylinder is worn out BUT it has lasted through 4 Pistons and probably 10 or more PREMIUM Poppy Rings. Take it SLOW! You may only need a Piston Kit. Terry Will supply you with a Premium Kit for under $200.00 Bucks. On this one, I agree with JPark. Joe Ormonde.

[Joe Ormonde]

Concerning the Model 93 Piston ring, do you guys and gals know what the Service life was? 24 Hours running time! That`s all. That was for the plain Iron ring. I replaced 3 Rings by the time my Super Rat was only 2 months old. Then the Shop in Norco CA handed me a Poppy Brand ring. It lasted for a whole 2 months! I REALLY like the Dykes Ring design BUT they just don`t last very long. That`s why we Super Rat fans removed the Cylinder Head all the time. Why? To see how many more hours we could ride before the ring needed to be swapped out. IF a new Ring has an .011 Ring gap and the Engine has 10 HARD Hours on it that end gap is probably .020 to .025. If you don`t believe me, remove your Head and look. Joe Ormonde.

[taber hodaka]

Is it .011 I would probably start my ring gap at .004 the book lists .006 why would we reference .011.-------- Clarence

[matt glascock]

Interestingly, I just inspected the top end on my RT. The manual lists 0.006 - 0.014 end gap for both rings.

[toadroad88]

Thanks again for all your quick help guys. I'll hopefully have some answers soon. -Brandon

[viclioce]

I knew someone (multiple) would jump in with ring gap info! And I did qualify it by saying “If I remembered correctly! Victor

[MTrat]

Use the next oversize ring and file the end gap to meet your specs,