Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125691
c:; 8. :. g ,.. ~ ! CD By Rod Breaker ~ w Z SPARK PLUG INSPECTION TOOL Any rider that tunes his own equipment knows that being able to 'read the spark plug accurately is a distinct advantage, whether he is super-tuning his racer or just troubleshooting his street machine for a carburetion or spark plug problem. Unless the light is exceptionally good, it is really hard to see down inside the plug, for an accurate reading. A lot can be told about a machine's operation by, checking the condition of the porcelain down inside the plug, so anything that will shed some light on the problem is appreciated. One of the tool manufacturers does make a special flashlight· type tool for doing just this, but for the majority of riders, the cost of this special tool is prohibitive. There, is an item on the market that will do the job and the price is within everybody's range, it is called a "Lighthouse Magnifier" and is available through most photographic stores, coin dealers or stamp dealers. This little item is a flashlij1;ht with a magnifier mounted on top of it (see photo) and works very well for checking plugs as well as looking closely at anything that may be hard to see. Get R B R one and keep it in your tool box. You'll find it has a variety of uses and will be well worth the few dollars invested. A TOOL FOR REMOVING HOLDING SPROCKET NUTS· It would seem that most riders who do complete teardowns on their machines fail to think about loosening the countershaft nut securing the sprocket until they have removed the engine from the frame. While the engine is in the frame, simply put your foot on the brake to hold the rear wheel "' position (of course the rear chain must still be connected) and put the wrench .-cutes Distributing ltd. 1812 Colorado Avenue· Senta Monica. Calif. 90404 IBoDda)' monUDg. Distributor of SACHS and PUCH Motorcycles Hodaka, the original trailbike that made off-road riding a national sport, offers the key to weekend excitement: "G HEAT-TREATED, STEEL, MOTOCROSS, SELF - CLEANING, FOLDING PEGS. etting away from it cz1I" ia wbert HodClka trczilbik.. o:r. all about. Free from w.ekday worries. out in the open air , •• trczilbiking gi..... you a "go anywhere. do anything" kind 01 leelinlJ no other sporl can offer. Fits Spet:lfh; ODAKA,HONDA, We design and build Hodaka trailbikes to promote this feeling of freedom, -. e ~ KAWASAKI AND YAMAHA MODELS. ,AA. ~v Ust Price 58.95 • AVAILABLE AT YOUR e specialze in 'Jawa/C-I, the specialty machines. The Bike Shop 2021 Via Burton'Anaheim, Calif. 92806 (714) 635-1450 (On State College Blvd, 1 blk. north of Riverside Fwy.l G I • ALTA WORLD'S FINEST Ultra-Lightweight Trials Bike Available Now (714) 286·1001 SAN DIEGO ALTA SUZUKI 4825 EI Caion Blvd. San Dieao - II's a 1089 wa)'lo West of the Mississippi dealer or write direct to: I paper of the highest quality oil paintings by.Mel Murphy. Mrs. Murphy is a mo torcycle race fan, and maybe a genius as well. Judge for yourself, as the advertisements says. Order your own set of posters from Cycle News Store for,as little as $3 each or $25 for all eleven and put them up around you for inspiration. If you don't find that they pump up your mind, return them for your money back. These work. BOOTS Incomparable old world craftsmanship providing the ultimate in fit, finish, comfort, safety, appearance and unsurpassed durability for the motor· cycling enthusiast. Presented by Hercules Distributing and available through SACHS dealers throughout the West. Consult your telephone directory for listing of your near'!"1 SACHS , National Stars Posters Available LONG BEACH, CALIF. - Lawwill, Romero, Nixon, Bugs Mann all peer over my shoulder as I wtite this. Bart, Brelsford and the late Fred Nix do their thing in full color, bigger than life, literally before my eyes. They are looking great, all of them: true champions in fuB control racing motorcycles like they do indeed dig it. They actually are posters, but not like any you've seen before. These are irrst rate reproductiohs on expensive on the nut. On some models where it is difficult to turn the nut, a box-end wrench can be slipped over it, blocked against the frame or a solid section of the engine, and the nut can be very easily loosened by turning the rear wheel. This method will also serve to tighten the nut. If you happen to have a model where the sprpcket nut is innaccessible until the engine is removed from the frame, breaking this nut loose can be a problem. A simple sprocket holding tool can be made using a piece of pipe and a short section of chain. The chain should M Ii drilled and the chain pinned, be sure to ~ use a hardened pin, as it may shear ~ when holding a stubborn one. Slip the 0 first link insid'e of the pipe and have it, welded in position. The pipe should be about a foot long to allow you to get a good grip on it. To use it, just wtap it around the sprocket so that it holds it from turning and have at it with the wrench. It can also be used when tightening the nut. be eigh t or ten links and the same size as your drive chain on the machine. It can be a piece of old used chain that can usually be picked up at your local dealers trash receptical or else you can go first class and purchase a new piece of chain. The inside diameter of the section of pipe to be used should be large enough to accept the end of the chain. The chain should then be welded or brazed into the pipe. If a hole is Take performance, for instance, Hodaka is the world's most popular 100cc trailbike • ENABLES ACCURATE DETERMINATION DF TORQUE & HORSEPOWER CURVES • ACCOMPLISH ENGINE FINE TUNING • CONTROLLED ENGINE BREAK-IN • PERFORMANCE rESTING OF ENGINE MODIFICATIONS INCLUDES: HYDRAUL IC.WATER BRAKE & FRAME • UN IVERSAL MOTORCYCLE SUPPORT STAND • GAUGING • INSTRUMENTATION ~~~EJ.E S485.1!! HANSON ENGINEERING CO. P. O. Box 2354, Canoga Park, Cal. 91306 (213) 883-4570 because it out performs other trailbikes. Consistently. The technical reasons why are complex. The results are simple. More competitive events in the 100 class have been won on Hodaka's than any other make. We're experts when it comes to building lrailbikes and seven years of study and design have taken the guess work out of the 'go', But just 'go' isn't good enough in a trailbike. A breakdown ten miles from the nearest road can be dangerous as well as irritating, This is where Hodaka really shines, Every single component that goes into building the Hodaka has been time tested. . some up to seven years, When something isn't up to snull we improve it until it is '(flaws should be discovered in the factory by engineers. not in the field by customers), To date, our 1970 Hodaka has been improved 174 ways better than the first Hodaka intro· duced seven years ago, And this testing continues, right down to the tiniest nut or bolt. Cycle Magazine affirmed Hodaka's reliability when they reported on a California Scrambles event with the words; "While the other makes of motorcycles, lo:rge and "",cz1I. dropped like flies from the pounding the Hodaka's went on and on and onl" So now you know what Hodaka trail· bikes are basically all about (Weve won National Trailbike Champ three years in a row to prove it), Learn how it all started seven years ago by sending 25c and the completed coupon to: Public Relations Dept., PABATCO, Box 327, Athena, Oregon 97813, . H@DAKA MOTORCYCLES ............................................................ · : : Por a copy of •'The Hodaka Story." send the coupon and 2)c to PABATCO's addu" below. · · . · i i ·:t:~~:::::::::::~~::::::~::::::::~~::~::::::~::~::::~~:~~~::::::::~::::~~ . !~::~::::::::~::~::::::~::~::::::~::~::::::::::~::::~;::::::~:::: :!. : · . : Phone _ _ _ : _ ....... _ _A _ _.. _ • : : _ AMCGWS 11-70 • • ~~~~~.~ ~ ....... ~ ~ ! . U _ .... u.• : : ......-a~ PABATCO. Box 327. AlIa...... O r _ 17813 'Ill d