CDI problem? or Not?

[andresmalo]

Hi lads,

Since some days ago I'm facing some known problems with my bike wondering that may be it's because the CDI unit but I'm a little bit confused now.
As is known, when you are running with the bike it starts working with just one cylinder.. that's happened to me last week and after that sometimes the bike is like not working with full power.. its like there is a lack of power when I give throttle.
Today the bike was running fine but not happy with what happened last week I have unplugged the CDI units and switched one between the other and the tach was still working as usual, no problem.

The question is: When you have this problem with the CDIs is 100% sure that switching the CDI's the tach goes off? if it is, which can be the problem with my bike?.

Also I have an old CDI broken that the seller gave me when I bought the bike, and I tried it as well but even when it's supposed to be the broken one, and the bike with it start again giving problems running with one cylinder, the tach never went off.

To complete this, I see today when I was stopped in front a white car, I switched the left turn light and saw the headlights loosing "power" reflected on the back of that white car everytime that the left turn light flashed.

I really appreciate your help and thanks in advance for an advise.

Andres.

[moon]

if you had the engine switched off then the headlamp may dim a little when the indicator comes on, probably suggests that the battery is on it's way out...

the tacho is owered from one of the cdi's, (can't remember which one) so to check which cdi is faulty, when the problem happens you look at the rev counter, if it's normal then swap the cdi's over, next time it does it check the rev counter & you'll see it go dead...if the problem is with the cdi. (someone will be along in a minute to tell us which cdi powers the rev counter)

you talk about a power loss, when I had the problem with the cdi it was indeed a power loss but it was brutal & sudden (usually just when overtaking...) & would then cut back in again with a lurch.

the broken cdi you were given may just have an intermittent fault & is therefore not effective as a diagnostic tool.

( anyone who REALLY knows what they're talking about please feel free to jump in here anytime...)

[andresmalo]

if you had the engine switched off then the headlamp may dim a little when the indicator comes on, probably suggests that the battery is on it's way out...

the tacho is owered from one of the cdi's, (can't remember which one) so to check which cdi is faulty, when the problem happens you look at the rev counter, if it's normal then swap the cdi's over, next time it does it check the rev counter & you'll see it go dead...if the problem is with the cdi. (someone will be along in a minute to tell us which cdi powers the rev counter)

you talk about a power loss, when I had the problem with the cdi it was indeed a power loss but it was brutal & sudden (usually just when overtaking...) & would then cut back in again with a lurch.

the broken cdi you were given may just have an intermittent fault & is therefore not effective as a diagnostic tool.

( anyone who REALLY knows what they're talking about please feel free to jump in here anytime...)

Thanks moon,

Look, the headlamp dimmed but the engine was on and running.. may be the battery is going to die..

I swaped the CDIs without luck.. no one after swaping shown tacho goes off.

About power loss, the first time that I noticed the loss of power was brutal and sudden, the bike start to work just with one cylinder, but after that some days later the bike started to loss power.. never more suddenly and brutal as the first time that ran with just one cylinder.. but when I give throttle is like it takes a second or two to respond.

Something else to add.. the day that the engine cuts off and start running with one cylinder.. I started listening a "clicking" sound near the front cylinder.. like an electrical sound, that occurred a couple of times and dissapeared..


Thanks a million,

[piguglyshandydrinker]

A clicking sound by the front cylinder you say - look for an arcing plug lead or cap.

It may be worth cleaning the filter in the fuel tap in cases it is a fuel supply problem.

It doesn't sound like a CDI problem if the tacho is working.....

Phil

[StumpyFingers]

The clicking sound from the front cylinder sounds like the top plug lead is shorting out, it runs very close to the radiator, so could get cooked.

[andresmalo]

The clicking sound from the front cylinder sounds like the top plug lead is shorting out, it runs very close to the radiator, so could get cooked.

You're right Stumpy. I will double check this today.
I'll let you know the progress guys.

Thanks.

[FatFergie]

Hi Andres,

This sounds like an electrical fault but not necesarily your cdi. When mine went it was very erratic, at times the tacho just jumped around a bit.
It is also possible that your battery is the problem, is it more than a few years old and is it full of fluid?
Another possibility is one of your coils. What I'd do first is to clean and remake all your ignition connections.

I hope you get sorted.

[Kakugo]

Last year I had a similar problem. Bike occasionally running on one cylinder and erratic tacho.
The problem was caused by the pulse generator coil connector: it was simply chocked full of dirt and corrosion. I cleaned it using a metal brush and ACF50, sealed the connector using vaseline and the bike has been spotless ever since.
It's a very cheap fix but will require a bit of work to get to that connector.

[andresmalo]

Guys,

Unfortunately was not the CDI.. was the coil.. and I said unfortunately because I bought 2 CDIs and that was not the problem hehe

So if anybody needs one contact me andresmalo@gmail.com

Cheers lads and thanks for your help!

[Techster]

Hey- wish my CDI problem had happened three days later and I'd have bought one. Mine packed up this Tuesday and I ordered one from Greece (on an XRV recommendation- cheers) for £110. I'm currently pottering around on one cylinder waiting for delivery- hope it comes Monday.
I'm glad yours was just the coil but I'd change the CDI layout anyway yo prevent a future problem-
best of luck with it