Cheap CDI's on ebay and your experience with them.

[Jonathan Rusu]

So my CDI is bad on my '86r and im seeing 17$ cdis on ebay. Why are they insanely cheap? To good to be true?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated

[Jonathan Rusu]

well i guess ill find out. Just bought one. Ill let yall know how it goes. lol.:beer

[tripledog]

A few years in with a $12 cdi on my 200es with no problems so far. Ditto on a $10 ignition coil for the same machine. They are cheap because they are made in China. Best of luck to you!

[AK47KID]

A few years in with a $12 cdi on my 200es with no problems so far. Ditto on a $10 ignition coil for the same machine. They are cheap because they are made in China. Best of luck to you!
12 dollars?!?? Think I'm done with amazons price of $60-80 for a cdi.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[newby200x]

Throw it in the trash can as soon as you get it. My 85R had a cheap Chinese on it when I picked it up. It sparks too early so when you kick it, it will start before you make a full kick and the kick starter will let you know that by slapping your chin. But the main problem it had was that after 1/2 throttle, it would do nothing but bog, it would just fall flat on its face. Found a good used OEM and solved everything. By the way, it takes a good hard swing of the kick start to notice a blue crisp spark if you have an OEM CDI, I bought 2 before I realized that.

[DohcBikes]

POS ebay cdi almost left me stranded in the desert. glad i had a spare

[oldskool83]

Junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[83ATC185]

If its electrical and needs replacing it gets OEM Honda whenever possible. I just can't bring myself to trust a $12 Chinese electrical part, one that is necessary to get me back home.
Not saying it wont be fine for your everyday bump around the yard, i just wouldn't go off riding wherever carefree with one.

[JesseA420]

throw a ignition from a 01 cr into it, never have any 30 year old electrical problems again.

[tripledog]

If its electrical and needs replacing it gets OEM Honda whenever possible. I just can't bring myself to trust a $12 Chinese electrical part, one that is necessary to get me back home.
Not saying it wont be fine for your everyday bump around the yard, i just wouldn't go off riding wherever carefree with one.

Point well taken. My 200es seldom leaves my property, as I use it for chores on 4.5 acre yard. If it craps out, it isn't too far to push back to the house.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I too had a bad experience with other than OEM CDI on a 250r. Mine wasn't even a $12 chinese unit, it was a Ricks Hot Shot that was supposed to be a "better" CDI than OEM. Found it not to be the case. Hard kickbacks, especially on hot re-starts, and I was chasing the final tune on the main jet. These problems were amplified when I did the ESR 350 big bore.

Switched back to and OEM cdi and every single issue was resolved. What I thought was a stubborn jetting issue turned out to be caused by the CDI, the hard kickbacks on startup don't happen any more. If I ever decide to use anything other than the original OEM CDI for my R, it will be a complete CR250 ignition system, nothing else.

I have no experience with aftermarket or chinese CDI's for the other milder machines. They might not be as sensitive as the R and could be fine to run. I can't say either way though as I have never run one.

[ps2fixer]

Just to put it out there, the CDI circuit is rather simple, and pretty cheap to build. Of my limited understanding on them, a capacitor inside determines the ignition advancement curve. 2 Stroke is way off from 4 stroke, and some CDI's don't have the advancer circuit like the ones that work great on the 200es due to the mechanical spark advancer doing it's job.

I tested one 4+2 pin style CDI on my 350x, was doggy to start, idled low, and ~1200-1500 rpm it would spark too early and just die if I held the throttle open. It is clear the spark curve is way off from what the 350x wanted.

For those above that had the china CDI's fail, what exactly was the fault? Bad connection, or the CDI burnt out? The 30+ year old connector on your harness could be partly to blame too.

Not trying to say China made is super high quality or anything, but generally they don't do super bad. General thing I have seen is very tiny wire (the copper part) on most Chinese electrical, and the connectors are really poor quality and crimped poorly. I modify ignition switches from Chinese quads for use on other machines, and besides a couple I have found defective and the notes above, they have been reliable, I replace the wire and connectors on them though.

[Jonathan Rusu]

throw a ignition from a 01 cr into it, never have any 30 year old electrical problems again.

What about lighting?

[350for350]

When I got my 1980 atc 185, the cdi was bad so I bought a cheap one on ebay. I put it on and still no spark. Tried cdi #2, same thing. I was getting frustrated by this point. The ads said fits 1980 atc185 and a bunch of others. I checked the resistance of the cdi and it was way off spec. I bought a third one that was over $40 and this time I checked the resistance before installing and it checked good. I installed it and it ran great! I'll never install another one without checking the resistance first.

[ps2fixer]

When I got my 1980 atc 185, the cdi was bad so I bought a cheap one on ebay. I put it on and still no spark. Tried cdi #2, same thing. I was getting frustrated by this point. The ads said fits 1980 atc185 and a bunch of others. I checked the resistance of the cdi and it was way off spec. I bought a third one that was over $40 and this time I checked the resistance before installing and it checked good. I installed it and it ran great! I'll never install another one without checking the resistance first.

That is a good point to put out about the resistances. Too bad sellers don't list the values before buying.

[Mosh]

If you have ever been to any type of trade or dealer show, you may find yourself blocked into a booth by no less than 3 chineses people of, very limited english. There is usually a funky smell in the air, much like some one farted in a bag of 1 day old mcdonalds, left in a hot car for a few hours. They have a jar of skittles or m&ms for individuals treats to keep cost down from a bulk bag, to keep you occupied while they try to sell you a pallet of 10,000 cdi,s of " vady goo qwalty" at a unti cost of 2$ a piece. 3 of them jibering at you makes you realize the invasion is REAL and gives you a idea of what it could be like in wartime...
Meanwhile, the american booths , are handing out free beer, t shirts and sponsorships struggling to compete with the influx of malaysian, and chinese imports, just to get on forums and whatch people suggest supporting the import junk from everything to tires, to cdi,s and seat covers...
But yet the old "get what ya pay for" still don't sink in.

[Scootertrash]

The best is listening to libtards, leftists, and union tards complain about buying American and jobs going overseas. Then you see the union construction guys with tool bags full of cheap Chinese tools.

ETA: Then you have the penny pinchers here who still buy the cheap crap, and when they find out it's a POS either:

A: Come back here to complain that the stuff is junk, or

B: Don't come back and say anything, because they're too chickensh!t to admit they should have listened to those trying to tell them not to buy CCC. Cheap Chinese Crap.

YMMV

[83ATC185]

The best is listening to libtards, leftists, and union tards complain about buying American and jobs going overseas. Then you see the union construction guys with tool bags full of cheap Chinese tools.

ETA: Then you have the penny punchers here who still buy the cheap crap, and when they find out it's a POS either:

A: Come back here to complain that the stuff is junk, or

B: Don't come back and say anything, because they're tOo chickensh!t to admit they should have listened to those trying to tell them not to buy CCC. Cheap Chinese Crap.

YMMV

You will never make anyone understand that you can't do a $25,000 job with $4 equipment. And if you somehow manage to, they will step you up to $6 stuff...

[ps2fixer]

If you have ever been to any type of trade or dealer show, you may find yourself blocked into a booth by no less than 3 chineses people of, very limited english. There is usually a funky smell in the air, much like some one farted in a bag of 1 day old mcdonalds, left in a hot car for a few hours. They have a jar of skittles or m&ms for individuals treats to keep cost down from a bulk bag, to keep you occupied while they try to sell you a pallet of 10,000 cdi,s of " vady goo qwalty" at a unti cost of 2$ a piece. 3 of them jibering at you makes you realize the invasion is REAL and gives you a idea of what it could be like in wartime...
Meanwhile, the american booths , are handing out free beer, t shirts and sponsorships struggling to compete with the influx of malaysian, and chinese imports, just to get on forums and whatch people suggest supporting the import junk from everything to tires, to cdi,s and seat covers...
But yet the old "get what ya pay for" still don't sink in.

I won't go into the details, but there is a reason I ride Honda and drive Toyota. Made in the USA doesn't mean much any more, 20+ years ago it was a proud badge to put on products to show high quality and design.

One of the best LED flashlights I have bought is "Designed in USA" but it is made in CHINA. Quality control goes a long ways which sadly most Chinese companies fail at.

[DohcBikes]

the CDI circuit is rather simple,


my limited understanding on them

I just thought this was worth quoting.



Mosh, 'Backed into a booth'? Say it ain't so.

[ps2fixer]

I'm not here to fight or argue, no one is backed into corners or anything just stating my opinion.

For the CDI quotes, just because I have a basic understanding of reading a schematic doesn't mean I know how to design or alter the design. I should have said something closer to I have a limited understanding of the circuit design to be more detailed.

Here is a link to a couple of CDI circuit schematics, I don't see anything overly expensive in there, the DC one has an IC that could be a few dollars, but that is about it.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t81/SerpentSortium/Electronics/CDIACVSDC-Showsinsidewiringschematic.jpg

Here is another that is a Chinese design based on a Yamaha DT125.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DzKoXJZ8-2M/TEa0ZggirxI/AAAAAAAAAOc/597GfKMzea8/s1600/yamaha_dt125+edited.PNG

[Jonathan Rusu]

So Ive installed the new "CDI" and no bueno. The original will get it to spark but seems weak. I am at a loss. I can get it to fire but it will only run erratically with what seems to me is a lean condition. Ive already done a leak down test (Will hold 6psi all night) and a compression test (150psi) the plug is wet and I get fuel out off the exhaust. So is it possible to have these out of time? It seems to me that the stator and pulse gen can only be installed in one position, Im stumped.

[Scootertrash]

I just thought this was worth quoting.



Mosh, 'Backed into a booth'? Say it ain't so.


says "blocked into a booth"

[Mosh]

Comprehension is key in all things successful. .

[DohcBikes]

You guys are so cool. I hope someday I can be more like you.

[tripledog]

You guys are so cool. I hope someday I can be more like you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sONfxPCTU0

[Scootertrash]

You guys are so cool. I hope someday I can be more like you.

Setting the bar low doesn't make it much of a challenge.

[El Camexican]

Comprehension is key in all things successful. .

He said it has 150psi of comprehension.

[pantera1975]

Yup same issue here... With a Ricks on a 330 big bore....
I too had a bad experience with other than OEM CDI on a 250r. Mine wasn't even a $12 chinese unit, it was a Ricks Hot Shot that was supposed to be a "better" CDI than OEM. Found it not to be the case. Hard kickbacks, especially on hot re-starts, and I was chasing the final tune on the main jet. These problems were amplified when I did the ESR 350 big bore.

Switched back to and OEM cdi and every single issue was resolved. What I thought was a stubborn jetting issue turned out to be caused by the CDI, the hard kickbacks on startup don't happen any more. If I ever decide to use anything other than the original OEM CDI for my R, it will be a complete CR250 ignition system, nothing else.

I have no experience with aftermarket or chinese CDI's for the other milder machines. They might not be as sensitive as the R and could be fine to run. I can't say either way though as I have never run one.

[El Camexican]

One of the best LED flashlights I have bought is "Designed in USA" but it is made in CHINA. Quality control goes a long ways which sadly most Chinese companies fail at.

Oh so true...

[rustyhondas]

Yea buy American!!!! Get a shindengen for your Honda

[Ed200x]

I bought a Ricks motorsport electrics CDI for my 1986 350X. Works perfectly. Cost was $128.95. don't know about any others but this one works! Worth every penny.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I bought a Ricks motorsport electrics CDI for my 1986 350X. Works perfectly. Cost was $128.95. don't know about any others but this one works! Worth every penny.

Maybe they are getting better?? Or perhaps the 350x might not be as touchy to slight differences as the R??

Either way, good to hear some good feedback.

[Shawn Powell]

I bought a Ricks motorsport electrics CDI for my 1986 350X. Works perfectly. Cost was $128.95. don't know about any others but this one works! Worth every penny.

I would either go OEM or Ricks is great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk