Hawk Talk - Page 74

Ariel Red Hunter · 08-21-2016, 01:30 PM

This is a commentary on what I have noticed about the Hawk. It has sold very well, which is good for potential riders, reducing potential parts problems. And a large history of success in the hands of riders. Most people are very happy with their Hawks, but some have had minor problems. Now to the nittie-gritti. The engine is a very good one, originally made for Honda in China. It was originally a 125 or 150, so expanding it to 229cc is about as far as they can go. It is a pushrod single with a short stroke, which means it can sustain high rpm's without valve float, because the pushrods are very short and light. Caged ball main bearings with a roller bearing crankpin. It does not have a crankshaft counter-balancer shaft, although 250's really don't need balancer shafts. The plus on this engine for you is that the non balance shaft engines have a gear drive oil pump. The counter-balanced engines have a chain driven oil pump. Gear drive primary to the clutch and transmission, which is a five speed. Final drive is by 428 chain. The quality of the final drive chain is suspect. Another problem is in the quality of the fluids used on the bike. I would change the engine/transmission oil before I even started it for the first time to some high quality American 15W-40 oil. I would also clean the brake rotors with brake cleaner before I rode it for the first time. The brake fluid is also suspect. Change it out to an American/Canadian DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid. If, after a couple hundred miles, the front forks are not damped well enough, change that out too. People have reported good luck using ATF in the forks. Well that's enough for now. Later we will get into carburation an exhaust issues, and drive chain suggestions.

08-21-2016, 01:30 PM	#1
Ariel Red Hunter Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: akwesasne, NY-13655 Posts: 2,220	Hawk Talk This is a commentary on what I have noticed about the Hawk. It has sold very well, which is good for potential riders, reducing potential parts problems. And a large history of success in the hands of riders. Most people are very happy with their Hawks, but some have had minor problems. Now to the nittie-gritti. The engine is a very good one, originally made for Honda in China. It was originally a 125 or 150, so expanding it to 229cc is about as far as they can go. It is a pushrod single with a short stroke, which means it can sustain high rpm's without valve float, because the pushrods are very short and light. Caged ball main bearings with a roller bearing crankpin. It does not have a crankshaft counter-balancer shaft, although 250's really don't need balancer shafts. The plus on this engine for you is that the non balance shaft engines have a gear drive oil pump. The counter-balanced engines have a chain driven oil pump. Gear drive primary to the clutch and transmission, which is a five speed. Final drive is by 428 chain. The quality of the final drive chain is suspect. Another problem is in the quality of the fluids used on the bike. I would change the engine/transmission oil before I even started it for the first time to some high quality American 15W-40 oil. I would also clean the brake rotors with brake cleaner before I rode it for the first time. The brake fluid is also suspect. Change it out to an American/Canadian DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid. If, after a couple hundred miles, the front forks are not damped well enough, change that out too. People have reported good luck using ATF in the forks. Well that's enough for now. Later we will get into carburation an exhaust issues, and drive chain suggestions.
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