Lifan CDI on a Suzuki LT230E

[TwiZ]

Have a bad CDI on the runner...and not wanting to pay $4OO for a new one I did some searching and found that a Lifan CDI might be a possibility.The zuki has 2 stators and one is dedicated to the ignition system and appears to be separate from light and start system. If anyone sees why this cant be done id like to hear your input

[TwiZ]

Ill have to do something with the grounds which is no big deal.The zuki appears to be using ground on the kill switch,which again I can figure a way to use the kill in another way...but im thinkin this will work,and its $20 for the cdi and $12 for the plug with alil harness wiring

[TwiZ]

No electrical gurus with any input?

[RIDE-RED 250r]

It's hard to say man... Swapping CDI's can be tricky business, even when looking to swap CDI's of the same manufacturer but made for different models.

I am not steeped enough in the finer points of electrical to give you sound advice, but the part is cheap enough, you wouldn't be out much to give it a try.

But I will say, before going that route I would be looking to source a good used OEM CDI first. Stupid question: have you checked eBay?

[TwiZ]

Sure have...used is a $100-$150 for a used one..and dont really wanna go that route f i can help it...ive heard of guys heatin it with a hot air gun fer about 10-15 min and they work,gonna try that cuz it will spark sometimes...for $20 cant hurt to try the lifan..and the same cdi is used on another china 200cc bike. It the only one i found that takes two stator wires..others are 3 or 1 wire stator..and it has 2 wires for pickup coil and the kill terminal i found out goes to ground same as zuki. Only thing im concerned with is if the advance curve for timing in higher rps will be suffecient...i read where a guy used this lifan on the china bike and it spit n spudder,switched the pickup wires and it ran...wish i could make it all honda...already adapted a 200x carb on it....thanks for replying...at least i know someone is payin attention to my posts lmao

[TwiZ]

Oh and you should sell me that 85 350 x...you really dont need it...lol

[ps2fixer]

The photos are kind of too small to really read, but if the only difference is the ground. flip the kill switch off and it might work. Most old machines used the kill switch to ground to turn off, more modern machines ground to run (Honda based at least).

Another option are the China CDI boxes, however they are a bit of a hit or miss if they will work perfect or not. I know the 200es big red seems to work well on them, but a 350x isn't happy at all, unless you only want to idle around lol.

The CDIs from my understanding have 2 basic design differences, DC vs AC, machines with a battery and a regulator will have a DC based CDI, while machines with no regulator will have an AC based CDI. Besides that, they have different timing curves and such which you can't just see or know if it will work or not. Most likely it will at least get you spark and idle though.

If you do end up buying a non-OEM CDI and it works great for you, make sure you report back so others can run across the same info down the road that end up in the same shoes you are in now. Part numbers and such helps track the exact CDI you got (if there is any).

[TwiZ]

I will definatly keep ya informed on how it works...if it works ill try and do a write up w pics n such...just waitin for the mailman to bring it.The quadrunner has a pull starter and will run without a battery,and it has two stators,one 3 phase ac that goes to voltage reg./rectifier for the battery,starter and lights,and the second stator is a ac floating ground and it is stand alone for the ignition system only,so it has a ac cdi on it. Im on a i pad and i can click on pics and they are larger so idk about a pc. I did manage to get a 200x carborator adapted to this thing...im confident this cdi will work,(heck i used a chevy 4 prong module and ford 460 rotor,cap and coil on my jeep AMC 360 to get rid of the duraspark box)cant wait to get it in,along with all the other goodies i ordered

[TwiZ]

And im putting a 12v ac to 12v dc rectifier/regulator on my 200x with a battery to get rid of dim headlites...ill do a writeup and pics on this when i get it in as well

[ps2fixer]

Good stuff, I'd like to do similar in the reproduction harnesses I make, but they take so long to make in the first place .

I kind of remember my dad saying something about a jeep distributor that was junk and some GM based one was a perfect swap, 350/455 olds or something like that, but he was an Olds guy.

Just wondering, where did you source the 12v regulator at/from? Also if you want to stick with OEM style wiring, http://cycleterminal.com/ has terminals and tools. Hondas used the 3.5mm bullet terminals, and the green handed crimps work pretty well on them ($32). Joe is very quick at getting stuff out in the mail and generally is priority mail.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Sure have...used is a $100-$150 for a used one..and dont really wanna go that route f i can help it...ive heard of guys heatin it with a hot air gun fer about 10-15 min and they work,gonna try that cuz it will spark sometimes...for $20 cant hurt to try the lifan..and the same cdi is used on another china 200cc bike. It the only one i found that takes two stator wires..others are 3 or 1 wire stator..and it has 2 wires for pickup coil and the kill terminal i found out goes to ground same as zuki. Only thing im concerned with is if the advance curve for timing in higher rps will be suffecient...i read where a guy used this lifan on the china bike and it spit n spudder,switched the pickup wires and it ran...wish i could make it all honda...already adapted a 200x carb on it....thanks for replying...at least i know someone is payin attention to my posts lmao

No problem bud. I didn't want you to think we were ignoring you. It's just that most folks here are reluctant to offer advice on a subject we aren't completely sure about.

Sounds like you know a thing or 2 about electrical

I have an '88 LT230E Quadrunner myself. I am the second owner, the first being my late grandfather. He had CDI troubles with it in the mid 90's. It would quit out of the blue, but he figured out that he could wiggle the harness the CDI is plugged into and it would start back up and run again. This got him by for quite a while, then it got more and more troublesome and he ended up getting an OEM CDI from a local dealer and if I recall, it set him back well over $200.

So all that being said, I have a bit of interest in how your venture works out. Sounds like you are doing the technical legwork and not just attempting to swap in random parts. I look forward to hearing what your results are.

PS: you'll have to speak with my wife about that 350x, as it's hers.. But I doubt you will get anywhere, she's pretty attached to it.

[TwiZ]

It was worth a try gettin the x...i had a 85 back in the day...awesome machines...esp 85s...yea i do plumbing n heating n a/c and been a service tech for 27 yrs. so electrical dont scare me,and have always wrenched on my own stuff...and i was a welder fabricator in the navy,so if i can build it myself regardless of what it is i will. Yea his does the same thing,seem to wiggle around and it will work for a while then just up and quit. I read somewhere that 75% of the time if ya heat em with a heat gun or 300 degree oven for 10 15 min they start workin again...so ive had it sittin on the heater for a couple days. ...figure it cant hurt.Im workin on it tomorrow and gonna try old cdi and see what happens,still waitin for mailman for cdi and plug in harness.

[TwiZ]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251310250687...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Cdi

[TwiZ]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331634505116...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT. Harness

[TwiZ]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331655272950...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Rectifiier...would only let me put one link at a time in...prolly this i pad im on