The Hodaka Club Forum

It just takes 5 boxes!!! Victor

Those boxes above contain all of this!!! Victor

Where’s it going?

Where did it come from? Remember I said they sold the seat on Ebay. ------------ Clarence

It came from Idaho, not far from where Bruce is. Bought the Rat from Ryan Florke. Victor

OK, question. The motor was not handled well by FedEx. The head had a couple of fins bent inward. The outer fin is the worst.

Can heating and prying straighten the fins up? Here’s a couple of photos. Any How To assistance would be appreciated! Victor

I would not blame FedX, I would not ship a vulnerable engine in anything but a wooden box. ----- Clarence

Well unfortunately then the seller did a lousy job packing it. 2 sheets of little bubble wrap in a box twice the size of the motor, along with other parts wrapped in the same bubble wrap. The box was beat to $hite & had holes in it! The pics show how it arrived to me. He didn’t even have the head bolted down. It’s no wonder the head fin bent. I suspect the studs may have gotten bent. Luckily I have spare studs & head nuts. Victor

You are lucky Victor my engine came without the engine, only the blue tote with a hole in the side and I was out the engine and $$. But I think the shipper's did the best they knew how. I think it is now up to the buyer to explain that/this to the people we buy from. You may become known as the King or Rats. ------------- Clarence

I tried shipping a motor in a tote, it got to its destination but damaged, the tote was destroyed, I now overpack in a heavy box from Staples. Best if you can wrap in an old sleeping bag, comforter, or even old moving blankets. Sometimes I put sheet foam on the inside, kinda make a box in a box. It all helps. Once it’s packed shake the box, if you motor moves, it needs more packing.

OK. But back to my original question. What’s the best way to straighten the fins? Victor

Torch, wooden wedges (shim stock works great), a little hammer, and a LOT of patience. I have bent fins on many rides. It took me about 12 cycles of heating and tapping to get just one straightened and I proceeded to snap it off about a month later. I leave them all alone now. That little bend on yours won't significantly effect cooling efficiency.

Except it’s not mine. It’s already sold & I received a 50% deposit. Guess I can try the heat & wedge trick. Costs less than paying $100 for a used Rat head. Victor

Then I would explain to the owner the risks involved including the potential for additional expense if the operation is unsuccessful. If the owner is interested in a rider more than a 100 pt concours de elegance resto, he may want to just let that sleeping dog lie.

Ask the owner what he wants to do.

The seller told me to file a claim with FedEx. I’m going to contact FedEx. I’m guessing they will say NO & blame it on the packing.

Does anyone have an extra Super Rat head they will sell for less than $100 shipped to 87507? Just curious.

I’m going to try and heat and straighten this one to try & make it not as noticeable. But if something goes wrong, I might need a back up. Victor