The Hodaka Club Forum

About a year ago I purchased a 02 road toad with 2500 mile on it, it had not operated in a number of years. After tuning it up (plugs, points, condenser), cleaning the tank and carb, etc, it ran really well, always starting on the first or second kick. Would merrily cruise along at 40-45 mph. I have now put about 180 miles on it.
I had it out for a ride last weekend and it started acting up on me, while riding it completely cut out, and as I was coasting it started up again after about 100 feet, felt like I had been holding down the kill switch. After another mile or so it cut out again and would not start with the kick starter, however it did fire up again after about 10 minutes when I push started it. Then went a few more miles and died again. After getting it home in the back of a truck I pulled off the side cover and checked the points (looks good, correct gap, and clean), took off the carb and cleaned it, replaced the coil and tried again. It looks to have good spark however it still will not start with the kick starter, but will start when going down a long hill, but will not keep running. Any suggestions? Hoping to get it reliable enough to ride to Hodaka Days!
Thanks

Have you checked the fuel flow from the tank? There are screens built into the petcocks. Take off the fuel line to the carb and make sure that the fuel flows freely. Also, check to make sure the vent in the gas cap is not blocked. As the fuel runs out of the tank air must get in to take its place. If the air cannot get in, a vacuum is created in the tank which will stop the fuel from flowing.

Brian

Fuel flows freely from the tank and filter. While kicking it over today it did kind of backfire once, maybe something with the ignition system, although I did clean and regap the points?

Try this,

You said you cleaned the points. I had this VERY problem. My points were nice and clean on the contact BUT the shaft that the arms ride on was funked up. The points were not moving freely on the shaft. I took the points apart, cleaned and lubed the shaft and the bike ran like a top! OR, you could put new points on the bike. The cleaning deal is a free way to see if this is the issue.

Bob in MD

I will give that a try! Just have to get a flywheel puller first.
Thanks!

fter it fires up will it idle ? If not check your pilot jet , if its plugged starting will be nearly imposible and it wont idle

Rich

I pulled the flywheel and everything looked good, cleaned things up a bit, put it back together, checked the point gap and tried starting it again with no luck. Great looking spark. Decided to check the compression, it was very low, so pulled the head and cylinder off and took the piston out. The cylinder looks pretty good, however the piston is scored and only the top ring was there! There is a small groove worn or burned into the top of the piston right where the the gap is, so it was not getting much of a seal, and consequently low compression. Will fix this and hope that it will run again!