The Hodaka Club Forum

What’s the difference between using a 59 tooth primary gear and a 62 tooth primary gear? Also, does it require a different pinion gear or will it run OK with the OEM pinion gear for the 59 tooth primary gear? Thx! Victor

Need matching gears.

OK. And what benefit is there by going from a 59 to 62 tooth primary? More torque? Or not too end? Victor

I can’t answer that question.

difference 62-59=3? it will change gearing ratios. the 62 will gear you down? clarence

and it mote than a change of 3 because you would also change the # of teeth on the pinion gear, ct r

As a sort of general rule . . . within a Hodaka "chain" of engines (let's say all the 125's) . . . higher numerical ratios at the primary/pinion gear set geared things "down" (granny geared) for purpose built racers. This meant you wouldn't have to install sprockets which are really large at the rear wheel to get the overall "gearing" needed on the track(or trail?). On the other hand, lower numerical ratios at the primary/pinion gear set geared things "up" for higher speed potential with "normal" sized sprockets. But you simply can't "mix and match" pinions and primaries - they are matched sets.
Ed

Got it. Was asking for a friend. He has a 62 tooth primary but no matching pinion gear. I was thinking if I found a pinion gear to match it, it might make a better trials motor…. Victor

While purists may disagree (with a little bit of good reason), if you can come up with the proper tooth count of pinion gear which is in good shape (tooth condition and bore ID condition) . . . your friend could match it up with the primary gear he has.

Ed

“While purists may disagree…”

Explain, please. Victor

My old B+ article states that the bike came with the primary gear 4 teeth larger and the pinion gear 4 teeth smaller. it states it was done to enhance primary gear life. And thanks guys! Clarence

Some folks feel like a set of pinion/primary gears which have been "run in" together should not be split up. . . that long term reliability is the best ONLY with "married" gear sets. While there may be some grain of truth to that concept, as a practical matter I don't think anyone is going to wear out a primary gear set in their Hodaka . . . ever.
Ed

Ed you are so correct, I also don't think anybody could wear out a set of pinion/primary gears. The 1972 magazine covers the B+in three pages, it must have been the editors point of view. It lists it coming with a gear ratio of 2.826:1, and further states the different gear ratios have been compensated for by the final drive sprocket. it also notes they used a 423 chain because it has beefier roller. I think the article was produced by a writer not a rider? '''''''''' Clarence

Clarence. I don’t know about primary gears, but I have seen, & disposed of, pinion gears which were worn on the inside where the oil bushing sits. I’ve seen oil bushings which had their oil grooves completely worn away and they fit too loosely in the pinion gear. And inserting a new bushing still resulted in a wobbly pinion gear on the bushing. So there’s can be excessive wear on that pinion gear and it should always be checked & replaced if needed.

Alan found has this 62 tooth primary. But he has no pinion gear to mate with it. He acquired it in a large lot of parts he bought from another guy up in Canada. So it’s a lonely primary with no pinion. It would be nice to be able to use it, but I imagine no one would want to break up a set if they had one. I told Alan to put it on the offering shelf to “The God Of Speed!” As in “The World’s Fastest Indian” movie! Victor

I do not believe it could happen with good parts correctly torqued and something better than candle wax for oil also the pilot bushing must be installed correctly. don't forget the thrust washer. -- Ct

OK - you got me there. I'm sure both Clarence and I were thinking that you just wouldn't wear out the teeth of a primary gear set - assuming there is a sufficient supply of clean oil (which there certainly should be).

Of course if the oil level is low AND it is a slurry of clutch wear particles and pinion bushing "grindings" and ALL symptoms of clutch bushing wear have been ignored for say, several seasons, then, yeah . . . you could wear out the ID of the pinion gear. Cuz nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.

Ed

Just speaking to what I’ve experienced on a couple of the 14 motors I’ve rebuilt so far…. Most have not shown that kind of wear, but 2 did. And I don’t know under what conditions they were operated. But it is amazing to remove a pinion gear and find a bushing with no oil grooves left in it! Victor

Yikes! That must've smelled like a machine shop when it was running. PS- Captain, I'm going to use the last line of your last . posting - frequently. Proper citation will be attached - and I'm not talkin' that "a wise man once said" crap.

Matt,

While you may have first bumped into the "sufficiently talented fool" line from my post . . . I first heard it from one of my mentors, Leon Wilbanks. So the only credit I deserve is for passing the wisdom on.

He had another one which has been a favorite of mine since about 1972. It is used to describe just how steep that REALLY bad place on the trail is " . . . steeper than a cow's face." Think about it. THAT'S STEEP!

Ed

Like vertical!

I lived on the same hill, fun sledding and used zero gas to go to town, pap always bragged about that. ------------- Clarence