The Hodaka Club Forum

Last Monday I drove down to Albuquerque, NM & picked up this 250 ED for John Aloi! Bought it from the original owner, who bought it from Weird Harold’s Cycle Center, the 1970’s Hodaka Dealer in ABQ. Still has the Weurd Harold’s sticker on the right front fork leg!

The seller even had the original title! Amazing find. It was all theirs except for a broken tail light lens, and was wired for a headlight but none present.

The owner stripped the kick lever 30 years ago and never started it or washed it again. Drove it home and washed it at a wand car wash before I unloaded it from the truck.

A kick lever is on its way! When it arrives, I want to know how to set the timing on the CDI ignition. Want to see if it has spark or not. Hoping it doesn’t need a replacement CDI Unit!

Also, are the Hodaka letters on the fuel tank painted on? Or were they decals from the factory? If they were decals, what’s the best way to remove them without damaging the tank surface? You can see on the left side photo that the K & A are almost rubbed off! Lots of scratches in the letters too.

Here’s a few pics after I gave it a fairly hood but not complete washing. Hey, it was less than 40 degrees out! LOL!!! Victor

So, I have no experience with the CDI Ignitions. Can someone give me a basic understanding of how they work and how to set them up. PLEASE??? Thx! Victor

A CDI basically works like a regular ignition except for having points that trigger ignition, they have an electronic trigger. Different types of CDI's use different triggers. They can also be designed with varying advances / retards built in, for various rpm's.
Usually to set them, there will be a mark on the stater and another mark on the rotor. Using a dial indicator you get the piston (crankshaft) to your timing spot (on the 250 ED I believe it is 1.1mm btdc). Once there, you align the marks and your timing is set. I usually check with a timing light to verify the marks are correct.
Also, as there are no points, even if the timing is way off, there should still be spark, just in the wrong place.

I am not familiar with the CDI on the 250 ED, so I can't help you as far as what marks to line up, etc. Hopefully someone with one will chime in and let you know. If nothing else, post a couple of photos of the ignition and we might be able to see the marks, etc.

Victor,
I just went to hodaka-parts.com and found what you might need as far as timing. Go to the library and go to the Service Tips area. Then go to the last tip (HSB 34) It details how to set the timing on a 250 ED.
Also look at service bulletin #26 for a caution on tightening/loosening the bolts on the stater plate.

Great guys! Thanks for the info.

The kick lever arrived yesterday. The snow arrived last night! Continuing thru tomorrow. Coldness. No garage work. Victor

Victor the head that was shown on the Hodaka facebook website was a (A&A MFG . 1226). aluminum head. Not Webco --------------- Clarence