CDI's

[Dandy Dan]

With the store opening soon i'm hoping to get a CDI but i have a couple of questions.

First off, what is the actual difference in performance? (low end, midrange and top end). Someone with a CDI (anthony i think) said that the ruckus was 'definately restricted' but i'm hoping someone with a CDI could be bit more specific.

Secondly are all CDI's basically the same or is one brand better than another?

Thirdly, how the heck do you install one. Do you have to hard wire it in and if so where? Someone once posted that they ran it through their highbeams which sounds alright but is there a way so i can always be on? I'm sure there is.... any info would be swell.

Thanks,
Dan

[abe]

All brand CDIs are the same. They modify the advance curve and boost the max RPM a bit. These kinds of mods make little difference but with real engine mods they can help much more. It's not a good idea to run a CDI unit with a on/off switch, it needs to be always on. The most gain on a stock engine is about 1/2hp if your lucky. Some people love'm and some would rather keep the $134.

[texmex1]

Anyone have a translated copy of the instructions for the Kitaco CDI box?

[Dandy Dan]

I got my CDI about 2 weeks ago and it's still not installed but i thought i'd share the parts of the installation that i have figured out and hopefully someone else can share the rest. Here's what i've figured out:
1 - Remove the 'inner cover' (piece covering battery etc.)(4 screws)
2 - Remove seat ( 6, 12mm bolts)
3 - Remove floor panel (8, 10mm bolts (i think) and 2 screws)
4 - Click the 5 wire plug from the CDI into the similar plug with black wire sleeves coming out of it.
5 - Click blue wire with yellow stripe and clear end into the empty clear plug under the inner cover near the battery. The colors of the wire should match up (atleast on the Daytona, Progress Racing model)
6 - Run the long black sleeve with the yellow and black wires under the gas tank back to the engine.
7 - Unclick the right wire (yellow one) from the ignition unit (or whatever its called, it has wires leading to the spark plug) which is on top of the engine on the side away from the kickstart. Plug that wire into one of the yellow wires you've run back to the engine (plug it into the mostly yellow with a bit of black one).
8 - Plug the other wire you've run back (mostly black with some yellow) into the now empty socket you've created.
9 - The last step is to connect the two blue connectors to something under the inner cover. This is where i couldn't figure it out any further so if someone could post where you attach these two it would be great.

I did all of the above by looking at the pictures so i'm not 100% sure it's right. The above steps are all quite easy and probably make a lot more sense when you have your scooter and CDI in front of you.

Good Luck,
Dan

[abe]

Instructions on Battlescooter ;D

[Doctavian]

Basicly the two blue conectors are meant to clip inline with one of the existing conections just under the signal indicator lamps. Which one I don't know yet. But that deals with power and ground. I did not know this when I got my box and I hard wired it to the strongest source of power. Which is the pink wire running off of my highbeam indicator. This was kinda stupid because the box turns off when I put the lowbeams on. I must say that I have lost the use of three stators. Well, they don't start the bike thats for sure. I am sure it was from the box. So I am stuck with kick starting. But hey, "edit profanity" happens. The stator still charges and thats what counts. It just won't turn over. I would like to try to solve this problem, but I was never able to get a failure report back from honda. So if anyone has any insight.......
Drop a line.

[Dandy Dan]

Thanks a bunch for the instructions abe. I'm hoping to install mine on sat. if i have a chance. I just moved into the city two weeks ago so now my ruckus is finally doing what it was purchased to do instead of the 40mile commute i was running this summer. (Thats also why i haven't been on here for a while. No computer until today)

[abe]

Welcome back

[Dandy Dan]

well i was attempting to install my CDI today but i ran into a bit of a snag regarding the red/green wire coming from the CDI that you soldier into the other red/green wire on the 'relay connector'. My problem is that there are two red/green wires and i'm not sure which one to use. One one side of the 'relay connector' there are wires coloured: red/green, green, green/black, green/white and on the other side the wires are coloured red, red/green, red/black, and green/white. I'm soldiering my green wire to the green/black one as recommended. Do I soldier my red/green wire to the red/green in the same bank of wires or the other side? Thanks for the help.
- Dan

[Duster]

On your question about wiring.....there is a main color
with a 'tracer' stripe of a different color. Always match
the main color & then the tracer color. This is common
practice in electrical circuits. There may be more than
1 wire of a certain color, but each will have a different
color tracer stripe. Match the wire color AND the tracer
color & you got it made. Hope this helps.

[abe]

Hey Dan

I used the rear relay to connect the red/green and the front
relay for the green(ground) The important thing is that the
CDI doesn't have 12volts unless the key is on.

The two red/greens are both connected to each other. You can
cut the red/green wires below the tee so you only have one wire
to deal with.

If anyone has questions please email. If the directions on
Battlescooter are too vague please email with suggestions.

;D

[Dandy Dan]

Fabulous! ;D My CDI is Fabulous. ;D I got it installed today and i sure am pleased. Everyone needs one. Stop reading this and go order one off of the battlescooter store.... I'm sure everyone is wondering how fast my ruckus goes...Well try this: Before with an opened up airbox and rejetted carb i was cruisin at 36.5 mph (on flat, no wind, in a tuck position). Now i cruise at 40.5mph. Yeah an extra 4mph! It feels 10X faster. I've hit 45mph going down a medium sized hill! Soon i'll have the variator spacer shortened a smidge and i'll be cruisin 42/3mph(ish)! Yours may not go quite as fast if your airbox isn't opened up but i'm sure it'll help (and do open up your airbox, its so easy and cheap). A stock ruckus feels like it really loses power after 35mph but not anymore. It just keeps on pullin. A big thanks to abe for his wonderful directions and pictures on battlescooter.com. Anyone could do this mod. I have no experience with engine or electrical stuff at all but the directions make it easy and if you do hit a snag you can just ask it on here and someone will guide you through. With lighter variator rollers, an opened airbox and a CDI your ruckus will be a totally different machine. Opening the airbox produces noticably more power but the ruckus still hits the same wall around 36-37mph so you need a CDI to really get the top end boost. ;D ;D ;D

[Ruckass]

I have only two questions concerning the CDI install. In your instructions you say the red/green wire on the relay needs to be connected to the CDI red/green. The only problem is, the relay connector has 2 red/green wires. Which one do i connect to the CDI red/green wire?

Secondly, the yellow/black wire on the CDI is to connect to where the old yellow/back on the OEM was. Is the other yellow/black on the CDi to connecto to the wire I just removed from the coil?

Todd

[Dandy Dan]

Ruckass:
1) The relay connector has 2 banks of wires (with maybe 4 or 5 wires each). You want one CDI wire to go to one bank (to the green/black wire) and connect the other (red/green) CDI wire to the red/green wire on the other bank of wires. Don't touch the red/green wire in the same bank as the green/black wire you already used. (I asked the same question a few posts up. If you don't understand my response then read abe's answer to my question)

2) Yes, Thats the way to do 'er!

[Ruckass]

Thanks. The Kitaco CDI box is on!

Note to self, read other posts before you post a redundant question. Sorry bout that.

The instructions on the Battlescooter site are good but a little hard to follow in that "red/green wire solder" section. I'll try and rewrite them if thats cool. I'm also going to take more pics of the process too if anyone wants.

Ruckass

[abe]

Sorry about the confusing directions. I know how it goes the problem is I forget I'm helping others learn

If you know how to make it clearer please email ;D

[Ruckass]

Your instructions for the CDI install were pretty good actually. The soldering of the red/green wires to the relay connector red/green and the green to green/black on the relay connector was my sticking point. Just add that there are two sides to the relay connector and that the red/green wire needs to be soldered to the red/green wire from one side of the connector and the other CDI green wire needs to be soldered to the green/black wire from the OTHER side of the relay connector.

Also the soldering needs to be done to a spot on the relay wires a few mm down from the clip otherwise the newly soldered wire will be too bulky to fit back into the relay connector slot.

A better pic of the two wires newly soldered will be on its way soon. How do I upload it to this site?

BTW my CDI was a Kitaco and the wire coding is nearly identical other than the blue connectors. Mine dont tee off inside the black shrink wrap. But it doesnt really matter as they both get cut off anyways.

Ruckass

[abe]

I may have made them a little vague. I think the instructions need to show you how to do it but still allow to learn and actually understand why you are doing it. I'm not sure if that makes sense.

I want people to read the part that says " you need a + and - and you don't want the CDI to have power when the key is off" and check with a volt meter for it. You know, painting not painting by numbers. Does it sound fair?

[Ruckass]

I talked to a guy who sells a CDI type gizmo that looks more like a coil. It connects directly to the sparkplug. He is Taiwanese so there was a bit of a communication gap there. Anyone heard of this item? NGK makes one and he had 2 others. He said that this could go on even with my existing CDI and it would give a better? spark. He uses one on his Dio. Anyone know about this thing?

Ruckass