| Author | Message | ||
     2008xb12scg |
Looking at a beater bike (84 cb700) it's very cheap the owner says it needs a cdi unit. Not sure what that is or if it's simple or not. It's a $300 bike, might never run but it might be fun to learn how to tinker on and if I could get it running let the kids learn on it. | ||
| Gamdh |
Maybe this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_discharge_i gnition | ||
| Wheelybueller |
Capacitor Discharge Ignition,common Item to go bad,About 100.00 each there are two. I dont think you can get them from Honda anymore,aftermarket does have them (Parts Unlimited). VERIFY before spending money,These are fun bikes,but if your unfamiliar its easy to get discouraged. I just started bringing a 1975 CB550F back to life,It stopped running 23 years ago,parked in a corner and covered up. Prognosis,bad connector on key switch.  | ||
| Iamike |
Yep, that's what the owner of the little Yammy thought. I haven't checked to see if there is a output shaft seal available yet but since I'm having trouble keeping the carbs flowing it may not be worth it. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Thanks guys! I just wanted to know before I talked to him. I don't know why I didn't think of Wikipedia. Are they hard to change out? Also is there a way to verify this is the problem? | ||
| Wheelybueller |
if it is the issue,they are plug and play. cant get any easier. | ||
| Brumbear |
I have it on the my KZ 1000 it is simple but they tend to build heat and randomly blow the main fuse every so often | ||
| Nik |
CDI = electronic points; since its solid state electronics, it either works or it doesn't. | ||
| Aptbldr |
Old Japanese bikes are fun! Electrics & mechanicals are straight-forward. Look carefully at critical rubber bits and brake systems. Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club has a web site with a few techno-resources: http://www.vjmc.org | ||
| Dentfixer |
84 CB? Are you sure it's not a VF700? A Magna or a Sabre. With a V4. Those use an igniter unit under the seat. They are hard to come by but if you search enough you can find a used one. | ||
| Hughlysses |
A lot of people use the terms CDI and ignitor interchangeably, but they actually are 2 different things (some bikes use CDIs and some use ignitors). IIRC Hondas (like my 1983 Ascot VT500FT) use ignitors. On the Ascots, the ignitors rarely fail but the ignition coils get "weak" after ~25 years of cooking over the top of a hot engine. They'll get hard to crank when they're hot or miss at high RPM under load. There are several on-line outfits where you can search a parts fiche for the Honda part number. These guys: http://www.servicehonda.com/ will sell you Honda OEM parts at a substantial discount. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
Here is the link to the C.L. ad http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/1122590307.htm l | ||
| Hootowl |
"IIRC Hondas (like my 1983 Ascot VT500FT) use ignitors." My 83 VT500C (Shadow) used CDI according the the manual, and the manual was for both the Ascot and the Shadow. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Hootowl- The aftermarket manual calls them CDI's but they're actually ignitors (per an electrical engineer on the Yahoo Ascot Group). | ||
| Randlepmcmurphy |
C hicks D ig I t Used in a sentence: That bike has a serious CDI factor. | ||
| Hootowl |
Fair enough. I guess they were confused too. I never had an ignition issue, so I never had to touch them. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
"ignitor" is what the service manual called my Honda civic ignition box on the side of the distributor. I think it is just their generic name for "thing that spikes the coil" | ||
| Dentfixer |
The igniters are a common ignition failure on the VF's that are still on the road. Not sure about the VT's I've had difficulty finding replacement igniters either new or used. |
