The Hodaka Club Forum

a couple of days ago i had to make a set of chain adjusters for another project and it got me thinking , well maybe its the fact that we just went through 2 weeks of below zero weather there's over a foot of snow on the ground and its snowing today, but i digress. that this little part doesn't get it due very often . it sits back there on the axel doing its job with out complaining , needs very little looking after , is simple and well made , and helps makes all the other drive train components' able to do there jobs a little more efficient , so any way ....albert

Well its about time someone around here showed a little chain adjuster love. Its like a perfect part. I don't recall ever seeing one fail. Here's to the chain adjuster, Albert.

Albert,
Improperly Maintained Chains, Alignment, and Tension can cause Costly Damage to Chain Drive machines.

There is "Deflection Dimensions" and "Areas to check it", for Hodaka MC .

If a Chain becomes too loose, they will wear out the Primary and Final Drive Sprocket (Becoming Sharp Points, and larger Gaps tooth to tooth)
If you tighten the Chain too much the forces will eventually Damage the Bearings and eventually the Shafts.
This can also occur due to Misalignment of the 2 Sprockets. (Back wheel out of Parallel with the Primary Sprocket direction There is a inexpensive Chain Alignment tool to help with this alignment. (Google "Chain Alignment tool)

If the Chain and Or Sprockets become worn out, the chain can (and usually will) damage the Left Engine case, and even the Left Engine Case!!!
This has been referred to as "Loose Chain Syndrome".

A way to also avoid a chain becoming loose while you are driving it is an "Automatic Chain Tensioner".
Some Hodaka MCs came with them.
I made one for my 1968 Hodaka Ace 100 Model 92 "Restomod".

Wow! Nice scooter. I'd like to know more about it. Maybe a picture of the other side?

exactly , well put .. and that is a really fine looking bike . you should hijack this tread and tell us about this bike. i for one would like to know more about the tank , petcock , head light , and the "Automatic Chain Tensioner"...... albert

Ahhh, but they can fail! Several years back, a buddy limped his Wombat to the first rest stop on the Bad Rock ride. His right side chain adjuster was broken. We put the bike on a log, set the axle location and used a set of feeler gauges to fashion spacer ahead of the axle to lock it in place. Good times!!!

I have a couple of old chain tighteners in a small parts box. Stripped threads on one, head worn on the bolt do small it won’t stay in the tightener any longer.

Who ever used these must have been abusive! Can’t imagine what his chains looked like! Bet he went through a lot of sprockets & chains??? Victor

Hi Dale, I should have qualified that. Failed "for reason other than acute trauma".

matt glascock wrote: ↑Sun Jan 16, 2022 2:51 pm Hi Dale, I should have qualified that. Failed "for reason other than acute trauma".

You're correct. There was a little trauma involved!

Abusive or rode allot? The hodaka 90 only had a bolt welded to one side washer it was weak, when a 2 inch stick got stuck in the chain, it put undo pressure on the adjuster, causing it to fail. The chain was forced off of the rear sprocket, destroying the shifter case and many times it broke the case fastener, off of the engine, Anyone seen that? I had limited time available to go racing and I rode to finish the race. I devised what I called a quick change adjuster it only took a second to align and adjust the chain it never failed me in about 50 races. Also I could add links or take out links of chain. Clarence

Thank you All for your interest in My 1968 Hodaka Ace 100, Model 92, "Restomod".
I will soon post more on it FYI.

Your bike is fantastic, it could have been done with a ace 90. What are your tank side protectors from. I like your color combination. ------ Clarence

Clarence,
The Side Knee Protectors came off Ebay.
They come with Really Sticky Backing!

There are a Lot of them in lots of styles, and Colors there.

It Kind of Brakes up the "Plain Tank" areas!