The Hodaka Club Forum

I have this 94 Wombat I restored a while back with the exhaust being a 94 flamethrower pipe. Am I correct in my believe there are no baffles in the pipe, just the spark arrester assembly which goes in the tail end of the pipe? That’s been my assumption.

I BBQ’d the pipe when I first bought/rebuilt this Wombat. I bought it in November of 2020 and finished it up in the Soring of 2021. So it hasn’t been that long ago. Not ridden much at all, either.

But now, I can only get the bike to start, idle & rev (gently) with the pipe removed. So, I pulled the pipe off, removed the spark arrester and threw the pipe on the fire pit last evening. I’ve cleaned off the flaked up paint, sanded, wire brushed and cleaned the pipe and put the first coat of new ceramic paint on the pipe. It did smoke for over 30 minutes last night while on the fire. Hoping this takes care of it. If it doesn’t, is there anything else I should check to get her to run properly with the pipe installed back on the bike?

She has a VM24 SH-83B carb, configured as a stock carb but I use a 140 main with the stock 25 pilot jet, here at 7,000 feet in elevation, along with a stock 4E1 needle, 3rd clip position, 2.5 slide, stock everything else. New, freshly oiled UNI air filter in the stock air box. Points are gapped at .012.

I’ll be done with the paint, reassembly & reinstalation tomorrow. . Victor

I would ask Victor. In the mean time it is compression, fuel and spark at the right time. fuel could be one squirt out of a oil can. Good looking scooter. ---- Clarence

I've never opened up that model of pipe, but I don't think there is any baffling in the pipe body. After a proper pipe barbecue I like to do some pretty aggressive rubber hammer whacking on the pipe to dislodge any carbon build-up which might still be stuck inside. Finally, have you followed the published procedures to dial in the proper pilot jet size and pilot air screw adjustment? I wouldn't expect the sea level pilot jet to be "right" at 7,500ft.
Ed

Actually, the stock pilot jet works fine at 7,000 feet. The only thing which doesn’t is the 160 main. I have to drop to the 140 main for it to run well at this elevation.

The no start problem turned out to be a clogged spark arrester. Burning it clean with a propane torch took care of the issues! She started up, idled and Rev’d with the pipe off. So, I cleaned the spark arrester with a propane torch & banged it around a bit. Reinstalled it in the pipe and the bike started & ran with the cleaned spark arrester! Victor